How Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt tapped his indie bookstore cred to revive the big-box chain

James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble since 2019, revitalized the struggling chain by transforming its stores to emulate indie bookstores, leveraging his experience with Daunt Books in London and reviving Waterstones for Elliott Advisors. He eliminated the practice of co-op advertising, which required uniform book displays, and instead gave regional stores autonomy to curate their own inventory based on local customer preferences.