Employee Communications and Engagement Strategist
Employee Communications and Engagement Strategist
Dear EF Community,
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been thinking about what I would like to do post EILEEN FISHER. My relationship with Eileen and the company has been so invaluable to me for more than two decades, and I want to carefully think about how and when it’s best to leave the organization.
After a lot of thought and conversation with others, I have decided that, by mid-2017, we will be in a transition period where I will ultimately leave EILEEN FISHER as a full-time employee. In approximately 8 months, I plan to reduce my time in the company to about 80 percent.
My Transition Process
A small team (Candice Reffe, Jim Gundell, Jonci Cukier, Ted Freeman, and outside consultant Fred Miller) has been partnering with me to develop a strategic plan for my transition. This team has been instrumental in deepening the understanding of the needs of our accounting and financial leadership in the company.
The team also plans to start the process of looking for my replacement, which we imagine could take up to a year. Our hope is to identify someone with a unique set of talents who will complement my own skills and talents, as well as facilitate leadership in our financial world. To support this effort, we will engage an external search firm, and we will be speaking with key people in the company to hear their thoughts, ideas and needs related to the future of my position.
There will be an appropriate overlap in time where the selected candidate and I will be working in tandem. This will give us the opportunity to learn more about the individual and his/her special talents as well as understand which of my responsibilities are best transitioned to this person and which responsibilities may be held elsewhere in the company.
Thank You
Please know that this is bittersweet news to share with you: On the one hand, my family and I are excited about charting a new chapter in our lives together; on the other, so many of you have meant so much to me that it’s hard to imagine leaving. This is more than a job for me – it’s been a big part of my life for nearly 25 years. But I feel extremely grateful that I am able to participate in my own transition, and it is another testament to Eileen and her high regard for making sure that people can empower themselves to make the best choices for themselves, their families, and the company.
I have been honored to grow and lead our Accounting team over these many years. They are some of the most talented, committed, and fun-loving people I know. In particular, when I think of Hayley, who in many ways has been my right-hand partner for more than 14 years, her value as a key ally in this process has been immeasurable, and I look forward to seeing how her own role may blossom during this time.
This extended transition period will give me the opportunity to deepen the relationships and connections that I have with many of you. I think of you as extended members of the Pollak family, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the love and support you’ve shown me over the years.
Ken