11 March 2005 – Framingham (MA): Tom Stemberg has resigned as non-executive chairman of Staples.
A one-sentence statement from the company last night, simply said that "industry pioneer and Staples’ founder Tom Stemberg has resigned from the company’s board of directors".
No mention was made of any replacement, while a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said that Stemberg’s departure was "voluntary".
Stemberg’s resignation comes one month after joining Highland Capital Partners, when he said he always liked working with smaller companies.
Stemberg’s departure marks an end of an era. Not only did he found Staples, he is credited with pioneering the whole office superstore concept.
