Sears Holdings Names Jeff Balagna Executive Vice President And Chief Information Officer

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) announced today that Jeff Balagna will join the company as executive vice president and chief information officer. Mr. Balagna most recently served as the chief information officer at Eli Lilly. In his new role with Sears Holdings, Mr. Balagna will be responsible for all technology and infrastructure initiatives for the company in its support centers and in-store.

"Jeff is a proven executive with an analytical approach and experience in transforming complex organizations in rapidly evolving industries," said Edward S. Lampert, Sears Holdings' chairman and chief executive officer. "Innovation and technology are cornerstones in Sears Holdings' efforts to build lasting relationships with our Shop Your Way members, and Jeff's deep expertise in information technology infrastructure, customer loyalty programs and leveraging IT as a business-enabler make him a strong addition to our team."

Mr. Balagna added: "Sears Holdings is at the forefront of leveraging technology and 'big data' initiatives to better understand and build its relationships with members. I welcome the opportunity to advance these efforts in support of our stores and associates."

Prior to Eli Lilly, Mr. Balagna spent more than five years with Carlson Companies in various capacities, including serving as CEO of Carlson Marketing, where he led the successful sale of the customer loyalty marketing company to Groupe Aeroplan, a $2.1 billion global marketing company. He stayed at Groupe Aeroplan to coordinate transition and integration activities, which were successfully completed in August 2011. Previously, Mr. Balagna also served as chief information officer and senior vice president at Medtronic Inc. for five years, and in increasing senior leadership positions at GE Medical Systems Americas and Ford Motor Company.

Mr. Balagna received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Oakland University in Detroit, Mich.

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is a leading integrated retailer with more than 2,500 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada and the home of Shop Your Way, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, with a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, the Kardashian Kollection, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as Sofia by Sofia Vergara and The Country Living Home Collection. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service and installation calls made annually, and have a long-established commitment to those who serve in the military through initiatives like the Heroes at Home program. We have been named the 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, Recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR® "Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award" for Product Retailing and Energy Management and one of the Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads.  Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.  For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.  Twitter: @searsholdings ||Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers

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SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation