Finance & Capital Management

Amazon has confirmed that SVP and CFO Thomas J. Szkutak plans to retire from the company in June 2015. Succeeding him will be Brian T. Olsavsky, VP of finance for the company’s global consumer business, reporting to founder and CEO Jeffrey P. Bezos.

Szkutak has been Amazon’s CFO since joining the company in October 2002 and oversees the controller, treasury, investor relations, tax, internal audit and facilities functions as well as financial management of the company’s business units.

RetailMeNot has named former eBay executive Michael Jones as SVP of retailer and brand solutions as it seeks to grow its footprint.

Jones spent the last four years serving as VP of merchant development at eBay, where he was responsible for building and developing the company's business relationships with some of the largest brands and retailers in the world and growing the business of its largest customers. His responsibilities included sales, business development, merchant relations and operations for eBay's marketplace business.

Wet Seal CEO John D. Goodman has resigned from the role he took in January 2013. He was charged with turning things around for the struggling retailer and replaced Susan McGalla, who was herself ousted after 11 months amid declining sales.

Christopher & Banks president and CEO LuAnn Via said financial results for the second quarter ended Aug. 2 were solid, adding that the company made continued progress toward its long-term growth objectives.

Net sales at the specialty women’s apparel retailer totaled $106.6 million, an increase of 2.3% from $104.2 million for the year-ago period. During the quarter, the company operated an average of 9.3% fewer stores than during the comparable period last year. Same-store sales increased 2.6%.

Tewksbury, Mass. – The Market Basket supermarket chain is wasting no time in moving forward following its purchase by former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas for $1.5 billion on Aug. 28. According to the Boston Globe, Market Basket plans to open at least four new stores in Massachusetts the near future.

The Woodlands, Texas - Conn’s Inc. missed Wall Street expectations for profits in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, as net income dropped 8% to $17.65 million from $19.16 million. In addition to charges related to facility closures, a significant increase in delinquent customer debt in the company’s credit segment negatively impacted net income results.

Meanwhile, total revenues soared 30% to $352.96 million from $270.69 million. Same-store sales rose 11.7%.

New York – A Credit Suisse analyst is reportedly recommending that Staples and Office Depot, itself recently merged with Office Max, merge. According to Investors Business Daily, Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter made the suggestion in a note sent to clients on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

New York -- RKF announced that it has arranged two new leases at the Grace Building in Midtown for chef Gabriel Kreuther’s first solo restaurant and Bluestone Lane Coffee. The Grace Building is co-owned by Brookfield and The Swig Company.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced the relocation of the Chicago office to 155 N. Wacker Drive, where the Chicago team will continue to provide retail real estate services to clients in metro Chicago and across the Midwest.

The new SRS Chicago office is located in downtown Chicago in a LEED-Gold certified building just a few footsteps from the Chicago River.

Tustin, Calif. -- Retail real estate brokerage and consulting firm Present Value Properties announced that it has named Andrew McLean as VP. McLean, who will be based in the firm’s Tustin, California, office, most recently served as a VP with Lee & Associates.