Home Depot to Centralize Divisional Leaders in Atl

Atlanta, GA, March 16--Home Depot will centralize its three U.S. divisional offices into the company's headquarters located in Atlanta, Georgia. This will enable the company to realize greater efficiencies, streamline communications, provide consistency of execution in its stores and improve the overall customer experience. Over the next several months, The Home Depot's Southern, Northern and Western division presidents will relocate to Atlanta. These changes will enable the company to execute merchandising and operational initiatives with greater consistency, efficiency and speed. The company plans to maintain its three U.S. divisional offices as regional facilities to house regional vice presidents and other critical support positions, but will reduce its current square footage requirements in connection with this centralization. The regional vice presidents will be key to local execution, reacting quickly to the marketplace and driving sales. The division presidents will continue in their current roles reporting to Tom Taylor, EVP - Home Depot Stores, but will operate from Atlanta. "We continue our successful efforts to achieve greater efficiencies and consistency of execution," said Bob Nardelli, chairman, president & CEO of The Home Depot. "Over the past four years we have consolidated our U.S. Home Depot store division offices from nine to three. Based on the progress to date with these changes, we are confident that this next step will produce even greater benefits for our associates, our customers and shareholders. Tom and I look forward to having Division Presidents Bruce Merino, Paul Raines and Troy Rice in Atlanta. They will work closely with the rest of the Atlanta leadership team and drive consistency with our strong organization of regional vice presidents, district managers and store managers to assure customer-focused execution." The Home Depot does not anticipate any net job loss as a result of this consolidation. No organizational changes in the regions, districts or stores are planned as part of this centralization. The company reiterated that it plans to hire 20,000 net new associates this year to fill a variety of positions as it continues to grow.