Finance & Capital Management

The Senate has voted unanimously to confirm former Walmart Foundation President Sylvia Mathews Burwell as White House budget director, according to a Reuters report.

The report went on to state that the 96-0 vote marks the first time the White House has had a fully confirmed budget director since January 2012, when Jack Lew, now Treasury Secretary, left the position to become Obama's chief of staff.

Several key senior leadership changes took effect this week at the nation’s second largest automotive retailer as it looks to narrow the gap with AutoZone.

The Hershey Company announced a series of personnel moves it said would help accelerate global growth.

Executives involved in the changes which take effect May 13 include Humberto Alfonso, David Tacka, Michele Buck, E. Daniel Vucovich, D. Michael Wege and Waheed Zaman

New York -- J.C. Penney has been working with consulting firm AlixPartners, which specializes in turnarounds, for about a month, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Executives at AlixPartners are focused on cash flow management and finding ways for Penney to save money, according to the report.

Plano, Texas -- J. C. Penney Company announced the promotion of Brynn Evanson to EVP human resources, leading all HR functions across stores, supply chain and the home office, including team member relations, recruiting, learning and development, compensation and benefits, and talent operations. Evanson will join the company`s executive board, reporting to CEO Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III.

Evanson, 44, joined J.C. Penney in 2009 and most recently served as VP compensation, benefits and talent operations.
 

St. Louis -- Panera Bread Company on Tuesday said that chairman and co-CEO Ron Shaich will once again serve as the company's sole CEO starting on Aug. 1. Bill Moreton, who currently serves as co-CEO and president, plans to transition to an executive vice chairman role in order to spend more time on a family matter.

Moreton commented: "As a result of this family matter, I have found myself unable to travel and am now clear I will be challenged to fully execute my responsibilities as president and Co-CEO of Panera Bread.”

New York -- The National Retail Federation applauded a Senate vote to proceed with debate on S.743, an act to level the sales tax field for online and brick-and-mortar stores.

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay issued the following statement: “NRF applauds today’s Senate vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act and we commend Senators Enzi, Durbin, Alexander and Heitkamp for their skilled leadership in moving this legislation ahead.”


New York -- Saks Inc. says it plans to close its Saks Fifth Avenue store in WestShore Plaza in Tampa, Fla., on May 4.

Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks, commented: “This planned closing is in line with our strategy of using our resources in our most productive Saks Fifth Avenue stores. We regularly assess the productivity, profitability, and potential of each of our stores and may determine that a closing is appropriate from time to time.”

New York -- Coach on Tuesday reported that its net income for three-month period ending on March 30 rose 6.2% to $238.9 million amid strong sales in North America, beating analysts’ expectations. The company also disclosed that its longtime president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff, will step down when his contract expires next year in order to focus on his own namesake brand, which is owned by Coach. Coach said it is already looking for a successor.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. on Tuesday reported a bigger-than-expected first quarter loss on weak sales of wireless phone contracts. The company also reported that it is updating its brand and will begin remodeling select locations with a new look and feel over the next few weeks.

Joseph C. Magnacca, a former Walgreens executive who became CEO of RadioShack in February, remarked on the initial priorities and initiatives underway. Last week, he named a new chief marketing officer and a new SVP store concepts.