Retail leadership at scale is not about volume.
It’s about alignment.

Celeste Risimini-Johnson operates at the center of one of the most complex intersections in commerce — merchandising, operations, omni-channel execution, and brand strategy — all inside an environment that serves the next generation of consumers.

As Chief Merchandise & Operations Officer at Barnes & Noble College, Celeste leads the General Merchandise business inclusive of omni-channel merchandising, planning & allocation, and merchandise information teams. She also oversees store operations, design & construction, and brand partnerships — a scope that requires both creative instinct and operational precision.

In this episode of Retail Relates, we explore what it really means to balance creativity with P&L discipline, and how leaders translate vision into execution across cross-functional teams.

About Celeste

Celeste Risimini-Johnson is the Chief Merchandise & Operations Officer for Barnes & Noble College.

She leads the company’s General Merchandise business across omni-channel merchandising, planning & allocation, and merchandise information. Her leadership also spans store operations, design & construction, and brand partnerships — connecting brand, space, and product into a cohesive experience.

Prior to Barnes & Noble College, Celeste held senior leadership roles at Lands’ End, Toys “R” Us, The Children’s Place, and Fullbeauty Brands. During her tenure at Lands’ End, she was awarded two Lighthouse Awards for Outstanding Leadership and Results.

She is a member of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle and holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising from Johnson & Wales University.

Her career reflects more than upward mobility — it reflects range. General management. P&L ownership. Merchandising strategy. Product development. Business development. Turnarounds. Launches. Expansions.

She is a merchant who understands that brand promise only works when it connects to the consumer — and when the numbers work.