Aylwin Lewis

Aylwin B. Lewis (born May 28, 1954) is an African American businessman. As of June 2008, he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Potbelly Sandwich Works. He was the Chief Executive Officer and President of Sears Holdings Corporation until the end of January 2008. [cite news |title=Chief Executive of Sears to Step Down |url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Sears-CEO.html?hp |publisher=The New York Times |date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-01-28]

Sears Holdings was created in connection with the merger of Kmart Holding Corporation and Sears, Roebuck and Co., which was completed on March 24, 2005. The company generates approximately $55 billion in annual revenues and includes approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores and related service businesses in the United States and Canada.

Lewis joined Kmart Holding Corporation as President and Chief Executive Officer on October 18, 2004 from YUM! Brands, Inc., where he was President, Chief Multi-Branding and Operating Officer. He was a 13-year veteran of YUM! Brands, and was in the restaurant industry for 26 years, beginning his career as a Restaurant General Manager and rising through the ranks to his most recent position at YUM! Lewis is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company and Halliburton.

He holds the following academic degrees: BA in english ('76), BS in hotel and restaurant management ('76), and an MBA ('90)—all from the University of Houston. Aylwin Lewis also received a master's degree from Houston Baptist University.

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