I first came across Edward Lampert’s name earlier this week, while preparing for a phone interview with Kmart (yes, I’m open to a client-side move). I was surprised to discover that this old-school discount retailer was run by such a young man. Lampert, a Yale grad, is 42.
Today, Lampert is all over the news, due to his arranged marriage between Kmart and Sears.
Some pundits suggest that Lampert will take a page from Warren Buffet’s playbook and turn Kmart into a pure investment vehicle. Investment junkies and brand historians may recall that Buffet’s firm, Berkshire Hathaway, was once a Massachusetts shirt maker.
What’s even more interesting is the fact that Lampert–#140 on Forbes 400 richest Americans list–was kidnapped in Janurary of 2003. Lampert established a rapport with the villains, who at one point used his credit card to order a pizza, leading police to their location.
