Diversity & Inclusion

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, has named current CEO Nigel Travis, 63, as chairman of the board of directors. Board member Raul Alvarez, 57, has been appointed lead independent director of the board. These changes come as Jon Luther, 69, prepares to retire as director and chairman of the board effective May 15.

Miami, Fla. — Miami City Ballet’s Board of Trustees today elected former Macy’s executive Susan D. Kronick as its new president of the board.

Philadelphia -- Wet Seal Inc. agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a federal racial discrimination lawsuit that accused retailer of firing black employees because they didn’t fit the retailer’s “brand image.”
   
The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund represented the plaintiffs in the class-action effort. The lawsuit alleged that former top Wet Seal executives denied equal pay and promotion opportunities to black store managers or removed them outright, replacing them with white employees.

Los Angeles -- Bebe Stores, Inc. is naming Keith Keegan as senior VP of marketing, effective May 13. Keegan will be in charge of all aspects of marketing and branding across all Bebe brands and report to CEO Steve Birkhold.

Previously, Keegan has worked for Abercrombie and Fitch, Limited, and Express and most recently served as VP of marketing and creative director for American Eagle and the Aerie brand.

ATLANTA — Elavon, a leading global payments provider and wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, has promoted Simon Haslam to the position of president and CEO. Haslam succeeds Mike Passilla, who recently departed the company.

Haslam joined Elavon in 2005 and was president of Elavon International Markets. He is credited with leading Elavon’s successful expansion throughout Europe, South America and Latin America, including the company’s recently completed joint venture with Banco Santander.

New York -- The Jones Group Inc. said Monday that it has nominated James Mitarotonda, chairman and CEO of Barington Capital Group, to its board of directors, expanding the board to 11 members.

Barington has about a 2.3% stake in Jones Group.

Irvine, Calif. -- Passco Cos. announced that Larry Sullivan has been named president, effective May 30.

Sullivan, who currently serves as CFO and CFO of Passco, succeeds William Winn, who recently resigned.

William Passo, founder, will remain in his current position as CEO.
 

NEW YORK — The Jones Group Inc. has nominated chairman and CEO of Barington Capital Group James A. Mitarotonda to stand for election to the board of directors at the company's 2013 annual meeting of stockholders. 

With the addition of Mitarotonda, the Jones board of directors will expand to 11 members, 8 of whom are independent, 10 of whom are non-management and all of whom are annually elected.  

A new ad campaign that seeks to show "the real Walmart" from the perspective of customers, employees and suppliers is sure to ignite renewed debate over the company’s impact.