Diversity & Inclusion

Widespread reports have Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell heading to Washington to serve as President Obama’s director of the Office of Management and Budget.

PARK CITY, Utah -- Skullcandy, a manufacturer of performance headphones, has named Rick Alden, the company's founder, former CEO and a current director, as Interim CEO. Jeremy Andrus has decided to step down from his positions as resident and CEO and a company director to join a private investment firm. He will serve as a consultant to the company over the next 12 months.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) and Harbor Habitat for Humanity have completed construction on the homes built in partnership with Tynisha Murphy and the Patterson family, dedicating the homes in a ceremony that took place Dec. 8. The builds took place on side-by-side lots in the Harbor Shores community of Benton Harbor. 

AutoZone has elected Linda A. Goodspeed to its board of directors. Goodspeed is SVPand chief information officer (CIO) of The ServiceMaster Company, a position she has held since 2011.

"Linda's extensive background in information technology and the automotive industry will complement and enhance the collective skills of our Board," said Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO. "We are fortunate to have her as a new board member."

Prior to joining The ServiceMaster Company, Goodspeed was VP information systems for Nissan North America.

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.”

In case you missed it, one of America’s biggest and most iconic brands was in the news recently for something other than the latest sales figures: Wal-Mart announced an ambitious plan to hire approximately 100,000 veterans over the next five years.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart has partnered with Essence Magazine's finance expert, Tanisha Sykes, for the sixth-annual Share the Word campaign to provide financial empowerment to African-Americans.

"Financial empowerment is extremely important within the African-American community," Sykes said. "This year's Share the Word campaign will provide the tools, information and resources to help pave the road to financial success."

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. The outdoor retailer expanded significantly under her leadership, and now generates some $2 billion in annual revenues.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced the promotion of Jeff Burt as president of the company's Central division. Kroger's Central Division operates 136 food stores primarily in Indiana and Illinois.

Burt, 50, has been group VP of perishables merchandising and procurement since 2010. He succeeds Bob Moeder, who recently announced his plans to retire this spring.

Foothills Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal Inc. on Friday announced that its COO is resigning as the struggling retailer initiates a corporate workforce reduction as part of a broader cost-saving initiative. In other moves, it will shutter two poor-performing Arden B stores.

The struggling chain, which also authorized a $25 million stock buyback program, said president and COO Ken Seipel resigned effective immediately. His position will not be filled. Instead, Seipel's duties will be shared between CEO John Goodman and CFO Steve Benrubi.