HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings Corp. has promoted Deidra Cheeks Merriwether to senior vice president and president of retail services.

Sears Holdings Corp. has promoted Deidra Cheeks Merriwether to senior vice president and president of retail services.

The company said Tuesday that in the new role, Merriwether will be responsible for the oversight and leadership of retail services for all Kmart discount stores and Sears department stores. She succeeds James Haworth, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities, according to Sears Holdings.

Overall, the retailer operates more than 1,300 Kmart stores and over 900 Sears broadline stores.

Merriwether started at Sears Holdings in 2001 as director of IT finance and global capital planning for Kmart and has risen quickly through the company, holding roles of increasing responsibility within real estate, procurement and finance, Sears Holdings said. She most recently served as senior vice president of procurement and finance.

In addition, Merriwether also serves as a member of Sears Canada’s board of directors and is the executive sponsor of the company’s African-American Associate Network.

"Deidra is an accomplished leader," Bruce Johnson, interim chief executive officer and president of Sears Holdings, said in a statement. "She has a keen understanding of the retail business. Her past experiences within the company, along with a demonstrated success in creating and inspiring high-performance teams that are focused on satisfying the customer, make her a perfect fit for this role."