These two experienced and highly effective executives will bring Sears Holdings a new level of creativity and focus on marketing and our customer relationships. I particularly value the winning attitude and record of success that they will bring to Sears Holdings, and I expect them to help lead the ongoing change in Sears' culture.

Alan, Aylwin and I believe these changes will achieve greater clarity in our operating management and align this corporate structure with our vision of Sears Holdings, ... Our goal is to build one company with multiple ways of connecting with our customers, including our various store formats, online offerings, service relationships, and credit products.

The person who is bent on killing you will follow you wherever you are.

To operate a company of the size of Sears Holdings or Wal-Mart or Target or Home Depot or Lowe's, you need a combination of skills, and each of those skills needs to be sufficiently strong.

The pushback I get is, 'He's a hedge fund guy.' Full stop. Some places, that can be a badge of honor. In others, it's almost a term of derision.

The entrance strategy is actually more important than the exit strategy.