Pamida CEO to take Ezcorp job

The president and chief executive officer of Omaha-based Pamida Stores Operating Co. LLC will leave his position Aug. 29 for another job.

Paul E. Rothamel, CEO of the regional retailer that operates general merchandise stores, has accepted a job as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Ezcorp Inc., an Ezcorp spokesman confirmed Friday. The Austin, Texas,-based company operates pawnshops and loan stores.

Ken Seipel, Pamida’s chief merchant and strategy consultant, has been named interim CEO, starting Aug. 30.

Rothamel joined Pamida in 1999 as its senior vice president of operations and served in that capacity until his promotion to president and CEO in March 2008.

Before joining Pamida, Seipel served as executive vice president for stores, store design and operations at Old Navy. He has more than 25 years of retail industry experience and has held executive and merchandising positions with Shopko Stores, Target Stores and J.C. Penney Co.

Pamida is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners Inc., a private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies. It operates 207 stores in smaller communities throughout 17 Midwest, north-central and Rocky Mountain states. Pamida stores sell merchandise including apparel, home electronics, seasonal items, toys, housewares and groceries. The company also operates 142 pharmacies.

T. Scott King, a managing director for Sun Capital, said in a statement that he is grateful for Rothamel’s contributions over the years and in a difficult period for retail recently.

“As Paul departs, we are fortunate to have Ken Seipel serve as interim CEO and continue to build on the solid foundation that Paul established,” King said.

An Ezcorp statement said that Rothamel will fill a newly created position that reports to the company’s president and CEO, Joe Rotunda.

Contact the writer:

444-1183, christine.laue@owh.com

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