Herbert Mines Associates Fills Operations Post for Guitar Center
April 27, 2026 – New York-based retail and consumer focused executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has placed Kinna Thomas as SVP, merchandising operations & musician’s friend of Guitar Center, the world’s largest retailer of musical instruments. “Kinna is a results-oriented leader with extensive retail management experience in manufacturing, planning, replenishment, and buying,” the company said. “She’s excited to join the company because she grew up visiting Guitar Center stores with her family, so it feels special to now be part of the company. She’s looking forward to working with the team to continue supporting musicians and connecting customers with the tools they need to create. Welcome to the band, Kinna!”
Ms. Thomas previously served as vice president of merchandising operations and business development at CVS Health. Prior to this, she held senior merchandising and planning leadership roles at Target, including senior divisional merchandising manager for home storage and utility and senior divisional planning leader across dry grocery, dairy, and frozen food. Ms. Thomas also spent nearly a decade at Walmart in roles spanning director of global customer insights and analytics for customer experience, merchandising director for fresh bakery, senior buyer, buyer, and planner.
Guitar Center is the leading retailer of musical instruments, lessons, repairs, and rentals in the U.S. With more than 300 stores across the U.S. and one of the top direct sales websites in the industry, Guitar Center has helped people make music for more than 50 years. Guitar Center also provides customers with various musician-based services, including Guitar Center Lessons, where musicians of all ages and skill levels can learn to play a variety of instruments in many music genres, GC Repairs, an on-site maintenance and repairs service, and GC Rentals, a program offering easy rentals of instruments and other sound reinforcement gear.
Last year, Herbert Mines recruited Jerry Brandehoff as chief merchandising officer of Guitar Center. “Jerry is a dynamic and inspirational retail executive with over 30 years of experience leading merchandising and product teams for world-class global brands,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center. “Through his leadership style, he is dedicated to empowering teams, driving performance, and fostering collaboration. He was selected after an extensive search, and he stood out as the clear leader to help deliver our critical strategic priorities.”
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Mr. Brandehoff joined Guitar Center from Wayfair, where he most recently held the position of chief merchant, as well as additional leadership roles during his tenure. Previously he held leadership positions with Gap Inc, PVH, and Williams Sonoma Inc.
Specialist Search Firm
Established in 1978, Herbert Mines is a specialist search firm focusing on the retail, fashion and apparel, beauty, consumer products and services, hospitality, leisure, restaurant, and digital/technology industries. The firm is noted for its C-suite recruiting work. Herbert Mines has conducted upwards of 3,600 searches during the tenure of Hal Reiter, who joined the firm in 1993 as president, and was appointed chairman and chief executive officer in 1998.
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Brenda Malloy is the firm’s CEO. She brings over 40 years of experience to Herbert Mines Associates. During her career, she has authored numerous articles on retail CEO succession, omnichannel leadership, in addition to being a featured speaker at the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York City. Working with leading retailers at the senior-most levels to assemble winning leadership teams, Ms. Malloy primarily recruits board directors, CEOs, and their direct reports for publicly traded, privately held and private equity backed companies spanning vertical specialty, lifestyle and branded retail, off-price/value, grocery, hardlines, mass, and the specialty department store sectors.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
