Sears picks new online leader; Let's hope he gets the security thing

Sears Holdings is expected to name a Microsoft veteran to head its online business.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sears will name James Barr, who was the general manager of Microsoft's MSN Shopping and Marketplaces. Barr will become a senior vice president of Sears Holdings.

Barr's appointment is part of a broader shakeup at Sears, but let's hope that the newcomer can bring in a little security know-how. Sears has had its privacy problems. Earlier this month, Sears' Manage My Home site allowed anyone to find your purchase history. Before that, security researcher Ben Edelman noted that Sears was using ComScore software to track your online browsing and violate privacy standards.

Barr, who will oversee operations, business and technology for Sears' online units, should be able to inject better project management at Sears. The big question is whether he'll have the budget to do anything. Microsoft throws money at MSN. Sears isn't likely to give Barr nearly as many resources.