David McRedmond, who was instrumental in introducing Waterstone's to the U.S. and more recently was managing director of W.H. Smith Travel Retail and head of the U.S. travel retail business, has left the book business, according to the Bookseller.
McRedmond has returned to his native country, Ireland, where he joined Eircom, formerly Telecom Eireann, as head of its enterprises division. He told the Bookseller he hoped to stay "in touch with bookselling" but that he is "finally doing what I have wanted to do for some time, which is to return to Ireland."
In 1991, McRedmond was made head of Waterstone's fledgling operations in the U.S. and opened its first store here, in Boston, at a time when it appeared Waterstone's might spring up across the country and pose a threat to U.S. chains and independents alike. But after opening stores in Chicago and several more in the Boston area, the company focused on airport locations, where it now has more than 20 shops. The Chicago store closed in 1996; the Boston area stores were put on the block this year.
McRedmond returned to the U.K. in 1993. Since May 1998, he was head of Smith's airport operations here, which included Waterstone's airport and traditional stores. (Smith retained Waterstone's U.S. operations when it sold its U.K. and Irish branches to EMI last year.)
Sean Anderson, the chief financial officer of W.H. Smith Travel Retail in the U.S., replaces McRedmond.
