Content about president and CEO

May 7, 2013

Editor's Note: Chain Store Age's 24th annual survey of Fastest-Growing Managers measures new domestic and international third-party management and leasing contracts obtained during the preceding calendar year (2012).

Last year's numbers were such that we couldn't limit our annual Fastest-Growing third-party managers listing to a top five; a sixth was added because the contract totals were that close.

May 7, 2013

Just What Madison Ordered

Madison, Ala., city officials didn't want just any development for its last available commercial tract, a 28-acre property along a major thoroughfare. They wanted to bring in retailers currently unavailable in the area.

They approached Target and Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty Corp., a developer known for its Target-anchored developments.

"Madison told us they wanted Target," explained George B. Tomlin, president and CEO of GBT Realty. "If you help us, they said, we'll participate financially in the development of the property."

May 1, 2013

Walmart looks to e-commerce for growth

Walmart is emphasizing e-commerce for growth, said Neil Ashe, the chain’s president and CEO of global e-commerce, said during an investor presentation Wednesday morning. 

New York -- Walmart is emphasizing e-commerce for growth, said Neil Ashe, the chain’s president and CEO of global e-commerce, said during an investor presentation Wednesday morning. 

April 29, 2013

Columbia Sportswear names Mexx exec as senior VP, retail

Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed Shawn Cox as senior VP of retail, a newly created position that will report directly to president and CEO Tim Boyle.

New York -- Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed Shawn Cox as senior VP of retail, a newly created position that will report directly to president and CEO Tim Boyle. In his new role, Cox, 49, will be responsible for leading the company’s brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce operations in the U.S., Europe and Canada. 

April 16, 2013

True Value CEO to retire in May

True Value Hardware said that its president and CEO Lyle Heidemann will retire from the company after eight years at the helm, effective May 31.

Chicago -- True Value Hardware said Tuesday that its president and CEO Lyle Heidemann will retire from the company after eight years at the helm, effective May 31.

The hardware cooperative has named John Hartmann to succeed Heidemann as president and CEO. Hartmann previously served as CEO of New Zealand hardware cooperative Mitre 10. He also spent nearly a decade at Home Depot and HD Supply in a variety of roles, finishing his tenure as CO of the electrical and plumbing/HVAC divisions.

April 16, 2013

Walmart unveils sustainable commitments in global meeting

In its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting on Monday, Walmart announced new commitments the retailer says will dramatically increase energy efficiency and renewables, and hasten its path toward being 100% supplied by renewable energy.

Bentonville, Ark. -- In its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting on Monday, Walmart announced new commitments the retailer says will dramatically increase energy efficiency and renewables, and hasten its path toward being 100% supplied by renewable energy.

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke outlined specific goals the company said it intends to achieve by Dec. 31, 2020:

April 3, 2013

Supervalu announces departure of CFO, general counsel

Supervalu president and CEO Sam Duncan announced Wednesday some major changes to his executive leadership team.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu president and CEO Sam Duncan announced Wednesday some major changes to his executive leadership team.

CFO Sherry Smith will leave the company, effective May 30, and no replacement has yet been named. Smith is a 26-year veteran of the company and has served as EVP and CFO since December 2010.

General counsel Todd Sheldon will also leave the company, effective May 30, to be replaced by Karla Robertson, who has been named EVP for legal, effective immediately.

April 1, 2013

Ace Hardware names new chief

Ace Hardware Corp. announced that John Venhuizen has been named president and CEO of the hardware cooperative.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware Corp. announced that John Venhuizen has been named president and CEO of the hardware cooperative. The appointment is part of a strategic leadership transition that was announced last fall.

In September, Venhuizen was named president and COO of Ace Hardware, while Ace’s outgoing leader Ray Griffith maintained the title of CEO.

Venhuizen is a 20+-year veteran of Ace Hardware, having served in a variety of capacities.

March 26, 2013

Report: Wal-Mart to test in-store lockers for online purchases

Walmart plans to test the use of in-store lockers to hold goods ordered on its Web site until shoppers can pick them up, Reuters reported.

New York -- Walmart plans to test the use of in-store lockers to hold goods ordered on its website until shoppers can pick them up, Reuters reported.

Neil Ashe, president and CEO of the discounter’s global e-commerce division, discussed the test, which will get underway this summer in about 12 locations, on Tuesday at the chain’s e-commerce media day. The event was held at its global e-commerce offices in San Bruno, Calif. Ashe also said that Wal-Mart is set to surpass $9 billion in annual online sales this year.

March 19, 2013

Rona appoints former Metro exec as new president and CEO

Canadian home-improvement chain Rona Inc. announced Tuesday it has named Robert Sawyer as president and CEO, effective next month.

Boucherville, Quebec, Canada -- Canadian home-improvement chain Rona Inc. announced Tuesday it has named Robert Sawyer as president and CEO, effective next month.

Sawyer was previously an executive at grocery chain Metro Inc.

Rona’s acting CEO Dominique Boies will remain as company CFO.

March 15, 2013

Retail Shuffle

Is it just me, or does it seem like the past two months or so have seen an unusually high level of turnover at the top? It's gotten so that you need a scorecard to keep up with all the comings and goings, as chief executives are forced out, jump ship, retire or move on.

This year's changing of the guard is bittersweet because it includes the retirement of two veteran retailers, Steve Burd of Safeway and Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

March 14, 2013

Kirkland's CEO to retire; Q4 results tops Street

Kirkland's announced that Robert Alderson, the home decor retailer's long-time president and CEO, intends to retire at the end of fiscal 2013, or approximately Feb. 1, 2014.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kirkland's announced that Robert Alderson, the home decor retailer's long-time president and CEO, intends to retire at the end of fiscal 2013, or approximately Feb. 1, 2014.

In November, Kirkland's said that Alderson was taking a temporary medical leave of absence for six to eight weeks for a non-emergency medical procedure. Mike Madden, Kirkland's SVP and CFO, served as acting president and CEO during that time.

March 6, 2013

Walmart in line to open 500 Neighborhood Market stores by fiscal 2016

Walmart will open as many as 115 small-format stores this year, according to Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.

New York -- Walmart will open as many as 115 small-format stores this year, according to Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.

Simon discussed the chain’s store portfolio during a presentation at Raymond James Institutional Investors conference. He noted that Walmart’s smaller-format stores (below 60,000 sq. ft.) are making inroads against dollar stores, supermarkets and drug stores and will play a key role in the company's future.

February 20, 2013

Former Wal-Mart chief named to CarCharging board

Electric vehicle charging company Car Charging Group said that former Wal-Mart Stores president and CEO Bill Fields has been appointed to its board of directors.

Miami Beach, Fla. -- Electric vehicle charging company Car Charging Group said Wednesday that former Wal-Mart Stores president and CEO Bill Fields has been appointed to its board of directors.

Retail veteran Fields has also led Blockbuster Entertainment Group as its chairman and CEO and also served in the same capacity at Hudson’s Bay Co.

February 14, 2013

Limited CEO named CEO of Lane Bryant

Ascena Retail Group announced that Linda Heasley has accepted the position of president and CEO of Lane Bryant effective Feb. 18.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group announced that Linda Heasley has accepted the position of president and CEO of Lane Bryant effective Feb. 18. Heasley joins Lane Bryant division after six years as president and CEO of The Limited. (The Limited has announced a search for a new chief executive.)

February 7, 2013

Verizon Communications elects Walgreens chief Greg Wasson to board

Verizon Communications elected Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, to the Verizon board of directors, effective March 1.

New York -- Verizon Communications on Thursday elected Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, to the Verizon board of directors, effective March 1.

"Greg Wasson brings to Verizon an in-depth knowledge of the retail and healthcare industries," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon

chairman and CEO. "He offers a unique perspective as the leader of a successful Fortune 50 company focused on innovation,

traditional and nontraditional growth, operational and technical excellence, and multichannel integration.”

February 6, 2013

Obama taps CEO of REI to head Interior Department

President Obama has selected Sally Jewell, president and CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc., to lead the Interior Department, White House officials said.

Washington -- President Obama has selected Sally Jewell, president and CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc., to lead the Interior Department, White House officials said Wednesday.

Jewell, a former banker and Mobile Oil Corp. executive, is an outdoors enthusiast and conservation advocate. She joined the board of REI in 1996, and was appointed COO in 2000. In 2005, she was named CEO. Under her leadership, REI increased sales from $1 billion to nearly $2 billion, added 71 stores, and greatly expanded its online business.

February 4, 2013

Duncan takes the reins at Supervalu

Supervalu announced that Sam K. Duncan will become president and CEO, effective immediately.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu on Monday announced that Sam K. Duncan will become president and CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Wayne Sales, who has served as the company’s president and CEO since July 2012.

February 1, 2013

Walgreens promotes Magnacca to EVP

Walgreens promoted Joseph Magnacca to EVP from SVP, effective immediately.

Deerfield, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday promoted Joseph Magnacca to EVP from SVP, effective immediately. Magnacca also retains his title as president of daily living products and solutions.

January 29, 2013

NRF chief applauds Congress on immigration efforts

The National Retail Federation president and CEO Matthew Shay has issued the following statement in support of immigration reform.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation president and CEO Matthew Shay has issued the following statement in support of immigration reform:

“Our current immigration system is broken and unworkable, and it is in desperate need of reform. We applaud the President’s commitment and Congress’ resolve to address immigration reform this year.

“NRF has been and continues to be a strong advocate for bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform.

January 28, 2013

NRF forecasts slower sales for 2013

Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

The lukewarm forecast, released Monday, comes on the heels of a holiday season that went head-to-head with Washington’s political wrangling over fiscal concerns, shifting consumers’ spending plans downward. In the end, holiday sales in 2012 grew 3.0%.

January 2, 2013

NRF welcomes agreement to avoid fiscal cliff  

The National Retail Federation on Wednesday welcomed an agreement reached between the White House and Congress on a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday welcomed an agreement reached between the White House and Congress on a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff. The agreement was approved by the Senate early this morning and could be considered by the House as soon as today. 

December 27, 2012

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet

At the back of the new Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Reading, Pa., is a self-serve café setup with a sign that proclaims: “The Pot’s Always On. Have a free cup of coffee on us, and if you like, use two sugars … it’s been a pretty good year!”

From the sounds of things, there hasn’t been a bad year since the first Ollie’s opened in Mechanicsburg, Pa., in 1982.

December 12, 2012

Wal-Mart CEO: ‘Fiscal Cliff’ talk hurting holiday spending

In a Tuesday night address at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. president and CEO Mike Duke didn’t shy away from discussing the fiscal cliff, saying that the current debate is having a negative impact on consumer spending.

New York -- In a Tuesday night address at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. president and CEO Mike Duke didn’t shy away from discussing the fiscal cliff, saying that the current debate is having a negative impact on consumer spending.

December 11, 2012

Shades of Gray on Black Friday

By Jeff Green, president and CEO, Jeff Green Partners

We’ve all seen the footage that’s become an annual ritual for media outlets reporting on Black Friday: long lines, stampeding crowds and frantic shoppers. But the real drama is how stores fare once the dust settles, and this year was no exception. The length of the lines isn’t the ultimate Black Friday metric; it’s the bottom lines for retailers around the country that tell the tale.