As senior vice president and general merchandising manager, hardlines, Melissa Handy is responsible for merchandising strategies for seasonal and outdoor living, tools, hardware, and lawn and garden, including cleaning. She is also responsible for the company’s rural strategy. She joined Lowe’s in 2017.

Melissa has 20 years of experience in retail. Most recently, she served as senior vice president, inventory, replenishment and planning. Prior leadership roles include merchandising vice president, paint; vice president, supply chain planning; and senior director, supply chain strategy. Before joining Lowe’s, Melissa was the senior vice president of planning and allocation at Saks Fifth Avenue – Off 5th, where she was responsible for all aspects of inventory planning and allocation, including running the open-to-buy process. She spent 15 years at Saks Fifth Avenue in several inventory planning and merchandising leadership roles.

Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School.