Diversity & Inclusion

CINCINNATI — Sustainability is a core part of most retailers' strategies, but unless you have someone to lead the charge, those efforts can fall by the wayside. Kroger has taken steps to ensure its sustainable initiatives are met by hiring Suzanne Lindsay to fill the new role of director of sustainability. Lindsay will direct Kroger's internal sustainability initiatives and will lead the company's sustainability leadership team.

Minneapolis — Target has donated $37,500 in monetary support and product to assist with tornado relief efforts underway in the central United States. The donation includes $25,000 cash for the American Red Cross to aid their efforts and an additional $12,500 that can be used either as cash or product donations to local organizations in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri.

New York — Stop & Shop announced that its New England and New York Metro divisions and its customers were able to give back more than $22 million in 2011 into the hundreds of communities in which they operate.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon has the coolest job in the world, and he explained why during a luncheon presentation Thursday at the Cross Church in Rogers Ark. where he touched on his military career, being exceptional and overcoming evil.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Genesco has appointed Thurgood Marshall, Jr. to its board of directors. Marshall is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Bingham McCutchen LLP. He also serves on the boards of Corrections Corporation of America, Ethics Resource Center, and the Ford Foundation and as chairman of the board of governors of the United States Postal Service.

New York City -- J.C. Penney Co. has promoted Elizabeth Sweney to the position of chief merchant, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

Sweney is a 12-year-company veteran. She served as executive VP and general merchandise manager of women’s apparel.

Los Angeles -- Guess Inc. has appointed Chet Kuchinad as chief people officer and Amber Tarshis as senior VP marketing.

Kuchinad joined Guess on Feb. 1. His experience also includes senior executive roles at Nike and Starbucks Coffee Co.

Tarshis joined the company on Feb. 13. She most recently served as chief marketing officer for The Hub TV Network, a joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro.
 

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Callaway Golf Company has appointed Chip Brewer as president and CEO, effective March 5. Tony Thornley, who has served as interim president and CEO since June 2011, will resign from his interim positions on March 5, but will continue to serve on the Board of Directors. It is expected that Brewer will be appointed to the board of directors once he officially joins the company.    

Target for the first time this year was named to the annual listing of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises compiled by the organization Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Office Depot, Staples and Target were among the companies honored as America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises. Produced by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), this award recognizes corporations for world class programs that level the playing field for women's business enterprises (WBEs) to compete for corporate business, according to the council. 

Other companies honored include:

• Accenture

• Alcatel-Lucent

• Avis Budget Group