New Berlin-based costume and party supply retailer BuySeasons Inc. has appointed Rick Barton to chief executive officer, replacing Dev Mukherjee after just over a year in the role.
Mukherjee departed the company Tuesday. Company representatives would not comment further on the leadership change.
Barton will take over on April 28. He most recently served as president and CEO of Maumelle, Ark.-based Leisure Arts, a publisher of lifestyle and instructional craft publications and creator of e-books, digital downloads and DVDs. Leisure Arts was formerly owned by BuySeasons’ Englewood, Colo.-based parent company, Liberty Interactive Corp. Before Leisure Arts, Barton served as CEO of Buy-Rite Designs, managing partner at Hunt Private Equity Group and CEO of Paper Magic Group.
“We are thrilled to have Rick lead BuySeasons,” said Greg Maffei, president and CEO of Liberty Interactive. “We have known Rick for many years since he served as CEO of Leisure Arts, a former Liberty subsidiary. His experience in branding, retail and operations will fit well with this group of businesses. “We want to thank Dev for his vision and commitment during a period of change for the company.”
BuySeasons was founded in 1999 and sells costumes, accessories, seasonal décor and party supplies to consumers and large retailers on BuyCostumes.com, BirthdayExpress.com, CostumeExpress.com, 1stWishes.com and CelebrateExpress.com.
In January 2013, BuySeasons chief executive officer Dan Haight left the company and was replaced by Mukherjee, who had been a senior vice president in Sears Holdings Corp.’s home appliances division. Mukherjee expanded the company’s management team in December, adding a chief marketing officer, a chief financial officer and a vice president, controller for both BuySeasons and Liberty portfolio company Evite.
