Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart has appointed Tom Horton, former chairman and CEO of American Airlines, as the 16th member of its board of directors. Horton will also serve on the audit committee.  

Ann Inc. has named Coca-Cola executive Katie J. Bayne to its board of directors as the company looks to increase traffic and sales.

"Katie is an outstanding addition to Ann Inc.'s board of directors. She brings an exceptional background in strategic marketing and brand management that will add value to the company," said Ron Hovsepian, non-executive chairman of the board. "We're delighted to welcome her to the board and look forward to her insights and contributions."

The merchandising organization at Walmart is being transformed again following the departure of EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer Duncan Mac Naughton, which triggered several other high level moves.

New York - Gap Inc.'s incoming CEO, Abe Peck, is wasting no time putting his own stamp on the company, naming new presidents for the Gap and Banana Republic brands. Jeff Kirwan, 48, has been tapped to replace Stephen Sunnucks as global president for  Gap. And Owen, 49, will succeed Jack Calhoun on Jan. 5 as global president for Banana Republic.    

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Company Inc. has provided an equity inducement award of 2.07 million restricted stock units (RSUs) to Marvin Ellison, the company’s president and CEO-designee, in connection with his employment. Penney previously disclosed this award in connection with the announcement of Ellison`s appointment in October.

New York -- A petition to get Old Navy to stop charging more for women's plus-size jeans has gathered more than 36,000 signatures online, Bloomberg reports.  

Veteran apparel merchant Celia Clancy spent time at Bradlees, Walmart and TJX Companies. Now she is the newest member of struggling specialty retailer Body Central’s board of directors.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Robert Craves, 72, a founding officer of Costco, died last week shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, The Seattle Times reported.

 

Former Costco executive Robert Craves died last week shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, The Seattle Times reported. He was 72.

The Walmart Foundation increased to $10 million its investment in an educational program on track to provide training to 60,000 women in 150 factories.

The increased funding commitment to the Women in Factories program begun in 2011 was announced in Beijing by Scott Price, CEO of Walmart Asia at the 2014 APEC CEO Summit. The Women in Factories program has already provided training to 40,000 female factory workers and by the end of 2016 the figure is expected to increase to 60,000 women at factories in India, Bangladesh, China, El Salvador, and Honduras.