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Lewis Leo (Lee) Bird III (born May 14, 1964, better known as Lee Bird) is an American business executive. Most recently he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the At Home Group and retired in December 2023. [1][2] He is also known for serving in executive roles at companies such as Nike, Old Navy, and Gap.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

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Lee Bird was born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.[6] Bird’s first job was as a dishwasher when he was 14, where he stated he learned the value of a college education.[6]

In 1986, Bird earned a bachelor's degree in finance at Ithaca College where he was also an NCAA All American in swimming.[7] In 1990, Bird earned his MBA at Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business in Massachusetts.[6][8]

Career

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Bird started his professional career as a Loan Officer for BayBank.[9][10]

Before entering the retail/consumer industry, Bird held various strategic and financial positions for Ford Motor Company, Honeywell/Allied Signal, and Gateway, Inc..[9][11]

From 2001 to 2003, Bird held the position of Chief Financial Officer for Old Navy before he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer for Gap in 2003.[12][13] Bird also served as Group President for Nike Affiliates at Nike, Inc., overseeing Nike subsidiaries such as Hurley International before stepping down from his position in 2009.[14][11][15]

Bird also served from 2011 to 2012 as Managing Director/Consuming Practice Leader of The Gores Group, a global private equity firm.[16][17][18][19]

Bird joined Garden Ridge in 2012 as President and Chief Executive Officer. He oversaw the company as it became At Home Group Inc. in 2014.[11][20][21][22] He also oversaw the company as it entered the E-commerce industry.[23]

Bird previously served on the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Ithaca College.[24] Bird is also a member of the Ownership Advisory Group for the NHL’s Dallas Stars, the National Advisory Committee for Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business, and the board of the Larry H. Miller Company.[25][26]

Personal life

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Bird married Linda Partridge in 1986.[27][28] They have eight children.[29] In 1991, their third child, Kelsey, passed 13 days after she was born due to complications of a heart defect.[30] In 2018, the Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium at Ithaca College was named in her honor.[24][31]

He has been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since the age of 10.[32] His wife, Linda, is also a member and Bird baptized her when she was 21.[32]

In 2009, Bird was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and was told his cancer was incurable.[33] He pursued other options and participated in an experimental trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.[33] After months of following the protocol and enduring painful side effects, the treatment was successful. Bird is in full remission and cancer-free.[33]

In 2021, Bird began serving as  Stake President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the Lewisville Texas Stake.[34][35]

References

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  1. ^ "Home Alone: Decor chain's Lee Bird soars to top of highest-paid CEOs in Dallas-Fort Worth". Dallas News. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  2. ^ "While other major retailers struggled, At Home just finished the best year in its history". bizjournals.com. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  3. ^ "This retailer wants to change how Californians buy home furnishings. First store's in Lake Forest. Next? Poway, Long Beach, Temecula, Riverside". Orange County Register. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  4. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (2003-04-08). "Gap Names Finance Chief for Old Navy Unit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  5. ^ "At Home's sales topped $2 billion last year. Here's why Dallas shoppers are just discovering it". Dallas News. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  6. ^ a b c D Magazine. "Meet the Dallas 500: Lee Bird, CEO of At Home Group". D Magazine. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  7. ^ Murray, Jack. "Alum endows aquatics pavilion in honor on late daughter | The Ithacan". theithacan.org. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  8. ^ "Ithaca College Board of Trustees Elects Members | Ithaca College". www.ithaca.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  9. ^ a b "At Home comfortable with wage increase". Chain Store Age. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  10. ^ "SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  11. ^ a b c Curry, By Kerry. "The Evolution of At Home". D Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  12. ^ admin (2003-04-08). "USA: Gap Names Lee Bird COO Of Gap Domestic". Just Style. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  13. ^ "Fashion Accessory: Gap Promotes Old Navy CFO". CFO. 2003-04-09. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  14. ^ "This retailer wants to change how Californians buy home furnishings. First store's in Lake Forest. Next? Poway, Long Beach, Temecula, Riverside". Orange County Register. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  15. ^ Management, Adam Wilk, Greystone Capital. "At Home Group's Stock Can Double: Portfolio Manager". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Ithaca College Board of Trustees Elects Members". Ithaca College. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  17. ^ "Pep Boys agrees to be acquired for about $791M". The Mercury. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  18. ^ "The Gores Group Adds Nike Vet". www.themiddlemarket.com. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  19. ^ Meikle, Brad (2011-09-19). "The Gores Group Turns More Industry-Focused". Buyouts. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  20. ^ "Garden Ridge Renames Stores To At Home". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  21. ^ "Garden Ridge CEO: Why we're investing $20M to rename, rebrand stores". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  22. ^ "Garden Ridge is evolving into At Home". Dallas News. 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  23. ^ "At Home CEO's Gut Check Prompts 'Revisit' of Whole Business". Bloomberg.com. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  24. ^ a b "Lee Bird '86 - Board of Trustees -Ithaca College". Ithaca College Board of Trustees. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Ithaca College Board of Trustees Elects Members".&… web |title=Middle Market 50: Did you know? |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2016/06/27/middle-market-50-did-you… |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}
  26. ^ "Middle Market 50: Did you know?". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  27. ^ "Dedication Ceremony to Be Held for A&E Indoor Pool on Saturday Evening". Ithaca College Athletics. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  28. ^ "CEO of décor store At Home shares how faith influences his work and what carried him through cancer". LDS Living. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  29. ^ University, Brigham Young. "National Advisory Council - Lee Bird - BYU Marriott School of Business". BYU Marriott School of Business. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Lee Bird - Mormonism, The Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion - MormonWiki". MormonWiki. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  31. ^ Hornyak, Kyle. "Endowment Established to Name Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium-IC News-Ithaca College". Ithaca College News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  32. ^ a b Cobb, Sydney. "Turning 'houses into homes': At Home CEO Lee Bird discusses faith, values - Deseret News". Deseret News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  33. ^ a b c Cooper, Clarissa. "CEO of décor store At Home shares how faith influences his work and what carried him through cancer - LDS Living". LDS Living. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  34. ^ "CEO of décor store At Home shares how faith influences his work and what carried him through cancer". LDS Living. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  35. ^ "Stake President Archives". Church of Jesus Christ in North Texas. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
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