Finance & Capital Management

Plug and Play helps bring together retailers and startups who offer specific technology and expertise that can relieve their pain points. In each issue of our Customer Disruption e-newsletter, we will provide you a brief Q&A with the CEO of a Plug and Play startup, explaining how their company assists retailers in succeeding in today’s disruptive customer environment.

This week’s inaugural CEO Corner features three questions with Rich Wagner, CEO of Prevedere.

What does your company do?

Boston -- Wayfair filed its paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday to raise as much as $350 million on the public market.

The Boston-based online homegoods retailer posted a loss last year of $15.5 million, and the loss was $51.4 million in the last six months. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup are leading up the underwriting for the IPO, along with Allen & Co., Pacific Crest Securities, Piper Jaffray, Wells Fargo Securities, Canaccord Genuity, Cowen and Co., and Raymond James.

Minneapolis – Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, 74, is retiring as president and CEO of Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc. (ARCA). Mark Eisenschenk, who has served as COO since July 2013, has been promoted to the position of president and CEO.

The Estée Lauder Companies achieved record net sales and reported overall strong financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30.

For the year, the company achieved record net sales of $10.97 billion, an 8% increase compared with $10.18 billion in the prior year. Even excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, net sales still increased 8%.

Despite an increase of 1% in comparable store sales, Dillard’s CEO William T. Dillard II expressed disappointment in the company’s bottom line performance.

The company’s net sales for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 2 were $1.475 billion, compared to net sales of $1.480 billion for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013. Net sales include the operations of the company’s construction business, CDI Contractors.

Orlando, Fla. - Darden Restaurants Inc. has retained global executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates to assist the company with the recruitment of its next CEO. As previously announced, Clarence Otis is stepping down as chairman and CEO of Darden.  

To ensure a smooth transition, Charles A. Ledsinger Jr. has been appointed independent non-executive chairman of the board, and Mr. Otis has agreed to continue serving as CEO of Darden until the earlier of the appointment of his successor or Dec. 31, 2014.

BJ's Wholesale Club plans to partner with 215 schools through the organization's Adopt-A-School program. At the beginning of each school year, every BJ's Wholesale Club and Distribution Center partners with a local school to help enhance existing curriculum.

Newell Rubbermaid’s EVP and CFO Doug Martin has resigned from the company effective August 31, to be EVP and CFO at Spectrum Brands, effective September 1.

Newell Rubbermaid has retained Spencer Stuart to help the company search for a new CFO. While that search is underway, John Stipancich, the company's EVP, general counsel, corporate secretary and EMEA leader, has been tapped as interim financial chief.