How do I list a backward move due to downsizing?

by Stephen
(Atlanta, Ga)

I was a Regional Vice President for a Company for 4 years that went through a bankruptcy and closed over 150 stores and went from 13 RVPs to 7. I was one of the RVPs asked to go back and run a district that I had previously run.

Should I explain this on a resume or just list the jobs showing the move backwards and hope to get an interview and explain then ? I am concerned that a company will think that I got demoted.

ANSWER: This is where a cover letter becomes valuable. You can't really explain this sort of thing on a resume, but you can do so in the cover letter and I would definitely do so. I would also explain, if you can, why you were one of the RVPs that had to change jobs... for instance, was it done by seniority? (Hopefully, it wasn't related to poor performance.)