Barnes & Noble appoints Argir as chief digital officer; Veerina leaving the company

Barnes & Noble is shaking up the leadership at its struggling Nook business.

The bookseller said Monday that Frederic Argir will lead its commerce and Nook businesses. Mahesh Veerina, the current president of the Nook consumer business, will leave the company in February. Argir, who was the chief digital officer at Toys R Us, will join the company at the end of the month.

Barnes & Noble earlier this month named Sears Canada CEO Ronald Boire to lead its retail operations. Boire, who will oversee the company's 650 stores and its Nook e-book business, also worked for Toys R Us at one point.

Nook sales have paled in comparison with competing devices like the Kindle and the iPad, which supports Nook and Kindle aps.

Barnes & Noble Inc. recently announced that it would split it retail operations from its college textbook business.