Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart’s reputation took a pounding this week when well-intentioned efforts by employees to help co-workers at several stores were distorted by media outlets and a high profile celebrity who lapped up organized labor’s interpretation of the situation.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Thursday announced the appointment of Sona Chawla, president of e-commerce, as president of digital and chief marketing officer. In this new role, Chawla will lead a newly created digital and marketing division, establishing a unified and integrated digital, enterprise-wide marketing, and customer loyalty and insights group to advance Walgreens “Well Experience” strategy and vision to be the first choice in health and daily living in America and beyond, Walgreens stated.

Lowe's Canada has restructured its senior leadership team ahead of plans to continue growing its footprint in Canada.

PetSmart has unanimously elected Elizabeth Nickels to fill a newly created vacancy on its board of directors. Nickels will join the 2013 class of directors, and will be eligible for re-election by the company’s stockholders at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a national observance that runs annually from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. President Ronald Reagan extended the observance from a week to a month in 1998.

The Macerich Company embraced Hispanic Heritage Month this year as a way of recognizing its large Hispanic customer base. Thirty-one Macerich properties hosted special events celebrating the richness of Latin culture throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Austin, Texas — Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the addition of seven brokerage experts to its national program. Austin McWilliams joined the firm as a senior VP; Travis Sawvell and Jon Switzer joined as VPs, and Katie Carlisle joined as an associate, all based in Austin. Their additions come on the heels of the firm’s newly formed Austin Retail Brokerage practice led by newcomers Todd Wallace and Robert O’Farrell.  

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced its succession plan for secretary and general counsel.

Paul W. Heldman, 62, a 31-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as the company's general counsel since 1989, secretary since 1992, and executive VP since 2006, will retire in the spring of 2014.

RadioShack has announced the retirement of Thomas G. Plaskett from the company's board of directors. Plaskett had served on the RadioShack board since 1986, and was a member of the audit and compliance committee as well as the corporate governance committee.

His retirement is effective immediately, and the company intends to begin a search for a new independent director to fill his board seat.