HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Seeking a leader with IT savvy, Sears Holdings Corp. got one with the appointment of Lou D’Ambrosio as president and chief executive officer.

Seeking a leader with IT savvy, Sears Holdings Corp. got one with the appointment of Lou D’Ambrosio as president and chief executive officer.

A former chief executive officer of enterprise communication technology firm Avaya Inc., D’Ambrosio has worked with Sears Holdings in recent months as a board consultant on key strategic and operational initiatives. He took over late last month from interim chief executive W. Bruce Johnson, who was named executive vice president of off-mall businesses and supply chain.

"We were determined to find a leader with information and technology experience who could catalyze the transformation of our portfolio of businesses in the context of the evolution of the retail industry that is occurring more broadly," stated Sears Holdings chairman Edward Lampert. "Having worked closely with Lou and observing his business acumen, compelling leadership style, performance orientation and customer-first approach, I am confident that Lou is the right person to lead and transform Sears Holdings."

D’Ambrosio served as Avaya’s chief executive from 2006 to 2008 and helped the company go private. Before joining Avaya in 2002, he spent 16 years at IBM.