Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | March 23, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 3 BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer O ffice supplies retailer Staples quietly appointed Rachel Huckle as the Framingham-based firm's new CEO last year. Huckle assumed her role as the head of Staples' global operations in August, according to her LinkedIn profile. Staples' website confirms she is the firm's CEO. While Huckle's current position is new, she has worked for Staples Canada since 2019, most recently serving as its CEO, according to her LinkedIn. "Aer six unforgettable years with Staples Canada, I've traded one red jersey for another—continuing my journey with Staples Inc. in the USA," Huckle said in a LinkedIn post six months ago. Staples is the second-largest employer in Central Massachusetts, behind only UMass Memorial Health in Worcester and tied with Texas- based Dell Technologies. Staples has 12,000 employees worldwide, including between 5,000 and 10,000 in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. e company generated $8 billion in revenue in 2024. Typically, when a company of its size selects a new leader, the firm will make a public announcement, as Staples did in 2021 when John Lederer was named interim CEO. Despite Huckle being named CEO last year, only a handful of retail trade publications have reported the news. WBJ has reached out to Staples for comment. Staples was formerly a publicly traded company listed on the Nasdaq, but the office supply retailer was taken private following its 2017 acquisition by New York City private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Huckle replaces Lederer, who had previously served as the company's executive chairman. Lederer took on the role in June 2021 aer Alexander "Sandy" Douglas stepped down as CEO that same month. Before joining Staples Canada, Huckle held leadership roles at food and pharmaceutical retailer Loblaw Cos. and at Shoppers Drug Mart, both based in Ontario, according to her LinkedIn. She graduated with master's degrees from University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and the Smith School of Business at Queen's University in Ontario. "Now, I'm energized by the opportunity ahead with Staples Inc. e company is strong, with momentum across Retail, B2B, services, and brands like Staples, Staples Business, HiTouch, Quill and Staples Promotional Products," Huckle said on LinkedIn. "I look forward to building on that success with my new colleagues—driving growth, deepening our impact in the communities we serve, and continuing to shape the future to make it Easy for our customers to be successful." Funding research "This has made a decisive difference in the breadth of our program, which almost exclusively focus on investigations related to therapy development." Dr. Robert Brown, chair in neuroscience at UMass Chan Medical School, on the Worcester university receiving $10 million in funding since 1997 for its ALS research from the Wakefield-based nonprofit The Angel Fund for ALS Research Apprenticeship program "Apprenticeship degrees allow us to integrate emerging industry needs directly into academic learning and position students to step confidently into careers where they can contribute and grow from day one." Luis Pedraja, president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, on the school's new apprenticeship degree program pairing enrolled students with local apprenticeships for credit and income New CTO "His extensive experience in financial technology and collaborative leadership approach will help us continue to strengthen our technology capabilities while supporting the innovative and customer- focused banking experience our communities expect." Marco Bernasconi, first senior vice president, chief operating & innovation officer at Country Bank, on the Ware-based institution selecting Ryan Stepalavich as its senior vice president, chief technology officer. Pictured is Stepalavich. Staples quietly named Canadian leader as its CEO in August W PHOTO | COURTESY OF STAPLES CANADA Rachel Huckle

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