Content about chief executive

Wayne, N.J. -- The search is on for a new chief executive of Toys “R” Us with the announcement that Gerald L. Storch is stepping down as CEO of the company. The news comes just weeks after the world's largest dedicated toy retailer reported that its same-store U.S. sales fell 4.5% during the holiday season, and that its total sales fell 4.7%. 

New York -- The hunt is on for a new chief executive at Safeway following the resignation of longtime chairman and CEO Steve Burd.

Burd, 62, is scheduled to retire at the company’s annual stockholders meeting on May 14 and will aid in the search of his successor that is said to include internal and external candidates. Burd joined Safeway in October 1992 as president and was appointed CEO in May of the following year.

Topeka, Kan. -- Following earlier reports on Wednesday that Shopko CEO Paul Jones had departed the company to pursue another opportunity, Payless Holdings has announced that Jones has stepped in as chief executive for the shoe chain.

Jones, whose appointment is effective Oct. 22 and whose retail history includes executive positions with Sears and Kohl’s, will be based in Topeka.

Don’t let the grocery sector shake-ups fool you.

While there are individual failures, the category as a whole continues to find favor among developers that place a premium on having a traffic magnet in their shopping centers.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. said Wednesday it has ousted CEO Kathleen Mason and will launch a search for a new chief executive.

Mason was named president and CEO in 2000 and has come under fire as the closeout retailer has suffered slowing sales and widening losses.

Tuesday Morning also announced that executive VP and COO Michael Marchetti has been promoted to president and COO and will service as interim CEO until a successor for Mason is found.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy’s announcement on Tuesday morning that its CEO Brian Dunn had resigned the company by mutual agreement has been updated with information that a review is being conducted concerning the former chief executive’s personal conduct.

Best Buy initially said that there were no disagreements or specific problems related to the retailer’s operations, financial controls or procedures. But later in the day on Tuesday it said the company was conducting an internal investigation into his “personal conduct.”

New York City -- Sears Holdings Corp. hired Ron Boire, the former president and chief executive of Brookstone Inc. to lead its merchandising and retail stores for both the Sears and Kmart brands. Prior to Brookstone, Boire served as president, U.S. Toys, North America for Toys “R” Us from 2006 to 2009, where he was in charge of merchandising, marketing and operations

"We are in the midst of a transformation of our business, from top to bottom...," Sears CEO Lou D'Ambrosio said in a statement on Tuesday.

The new year will see a changing of the guard in the chief executive’s office of several big retailers. Here are four to watch:

Costco
The torch has been passed at Costco Wholesale Corp., with president and COO Craig Jelinek stepping into the very big shoes of the company’s longtime chief executive and co-founder Jim Sinegal (effective January 1, 2012).

New York City -- A report released Thursday by The Conference Board said that the rate of dismissal of CEOs in the S&P 500 due to disciplinary actions has increased in recent years, while 25% of boards of directors facing a chief executive succession have opted for an outside hire.

According to the 2011 CEO Succession Report, 51 CEOs in the S&P 500 left their post in 2010, making the rate of CEO succession approximately 10%, consistent with the average number of annual succession announcements from 2000 through 2009.

Tokyo -- A Monday report by the Financial Times said that Walmart’s chief executive in Japan has resigned suddenly, just over a year after he assumed the position.

Toru Noda became CEO of Walmart Japan and Seiyu, its Japanese supermarket chain, in February 2010. He has cited personal reasons for the unexpected departure.

Noda will be replaced by Steve Dacus, former COO of both Walmart Japan and Seiyu.

New York City -- Ron Johnson, the man credited with building Apple’s wildly successful retail empire, is leaving the high-tech company to become CEO of J.C. Penney Co.

New York City -- American Eagle Outfitters is looking for a new chief executive, the Wall Street Journal reported.

James O'Donnell, 70, has been CEO since 2003 and is said to be retiring, according to the report. Chairman Jay Schottenstein, a longtime retailer who also chairs the board of discount footwear chain DSW, is heading the board's search. Schottenstein was CEO of the company from 1992 to 2002.