Diversity & Inclusion

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes announced that Elizabeth Crystal has joined Lane Bryant as SVP, chief marketing officer.

Crystal will develop and lead the brand positioning, marketing, and advertising strategies for the Lane Bryant and Cacique brands. She will serve as the brand strategist, working with senior leadership to elevate and expand the brand's presence, the company said.

New York City -- The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that it has named five additional retail executives to its board of directors. Each new member, announced during NRF’s101st Annual Convention and Expo in New York, will serve a three-year term.

San Francisco -- A Tuesday report by Reuters said that Wal-Mart filed a motion on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed last October by a regrouping of women whose earlier gender bias class action was ended by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy announced that Shari Ballard and Mike Vitelli, who had both been president of Best Buy's domestic business, will take on separate jobs, effective immediately. The retailer, which posted disappointing holiday results, said it was undertaking the changes to accelerate its strategy by aligning the company's senior operating talent with its highest priorities.

New York City -- Former president Bill Clinton delivered a keynote address entitled “Embracing Our Common Humanity” to an overflow crowd Monday morning at the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & Expo in New York.

In his speech, Clinton spoke about the inequality, instability and the unsustainable way of life which makes up the world today, and said there remains a strong connection between social opportunity and economic opportunity.

ST. LOUIS — The boards of directors for Ralcorp Holdings' Ralcorp and Post divisions were unveiled Friday by the company.

As previously reported, Ralcorp said its Post cereal business will be spun off to become its own entity.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation announced that Whole Foods Market is the recipient of its prestigious annual Innovator of the Year award.

Walter Robb, co-CEO, will accept the award on behalf of co-CEO and founder John Mackey during the Annual Retail Industry Luncheon at NRF’s 101st Annual Convention and Expo on Jan. 17.

Roughly 50,000 acres of additional wildlife habitat across the United States will be preserved in 2012 as part of Walmart’s Acres for America program.

The company announced awards to support projects in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina and Tennessee as part of the Acres for America program that began in 2005 with a $35 million commitment to purchase and preserve one acre of wildlife habitat in the U.S. for every acre of land developed by the company through 2015.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney announced that Thomas Engibous will become chairman of its board of directors on Jan. 28.  Engibous was named to the board in 1999 and has served in presiding director and lead independent director roles since 2008.  He will assume the chairman's role from Myron Ullman, III, JCPenney's former chief executive officer, who will step down as executive chairman.

STOCKHOLM — Stefano Marzano has been appointed chief design dfficer, a new role at Electrolux.