Staples Names Interim CEO Goodman to Position Permanently

Staples Inc. named interim Chief Executive Officer Shira Goodman to the position on a permanent basis, betting on a company veteran as the office-supply retailer works to move forward from its failed merger with Office Depot Inc.

Goodman also will join the board, the Framingham, Massachusetts-based company said Monday in a statement. The executive has been at Staples for more than 23 years and has worked in North American operations, e-commerce, the contract-customer unit, high-growth markets, strategy, marketing and human resources. She became interim CEO in June, succeeding Ron Sargent.

Goodman takes the helm as Staples tries to regroup after regulators quashed its attempt to merge with Office Depot. The deal was a bid to cut costs and gain scale in an industry increasingly under threat from online rivals like Amazon.com Inc. Since the combination fell apart, Staples has focused on trimming expenses and improving sales to businesses.

The stock has slid 9.8 percent this year.