Staples, Inc., parent company of distributor Staples Promotional Products (PPAI 108945), has appointed J. Alexander (Sandy) Douglas as chief executive officer, effective April 2. He will succeed Shira Goodman as CEO. John Lederer, executive chairman of Staples, Inc. and its separate U.S. and Canadian retail businesses, will lead the company on a day-to-day basis during the transition.

Douglas most recently was president of Coca-Cola North America, where he led all aspects of consumer and business-to-business operations for the $10 billion revenue business. During his 30-year tenure at The Coca-Cola Company, he also served as global chief customer officer, and held a variety of positions across sales and marketing. Douglas began his career at the Procter & Gamble Company in sales and sales management positions.

“I am honored to be joining Staples, Inc. as CEO,” Douglas said in a news release. “Together with the company’s leadership and its associates, we will work to drive the business forward as we continue to deliver exceptional products, service and expertise to Staples’ customers.”

Lederer added, “The North American delivery business has a significant opportunity to accelerate long-term growth, and we are pleased to have Sandy join the leadership team at this important time. Sandy has extensive experience across multiple function areas including sales, marketing, merchandising and operations. This well-rounded experience makes him an ideal leader for Staples.”