International Business

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens Boots Alliance has named Kimberly R. Scardino as its new senior VP, global controller and chief accounting officer. Scardino joins Walgreens Boots Alliance from American Express Co., where she was senior VP, business advisory controller.

Greenwich, Conn. -- Starwood Retail Partners, the retail operating platform formed by Starwood Capital Group, announced that it has named Angela Aman CFO, effective Aug. 10. Aman brings more than a decade of experience as a financial executive to her newly created position, including having spent the last four years as CFO and treasurer of Retail Properties of America, Inc.

Aman will be responsible for strategic planning, implementing and management of all accounting and financial functions, as well as investor relations and partner reporting.

Houston - When consumer demand for the latest trends surges, fashion retailers must move quickly to engage with shoppers and ensure they have the right product mix on the shelves. The fast-growing women’s accessory retailer Charming Charlie  has met widespread consumer demand with an upgrade to Oracle Retail Merchandising solutions to support both its immediate needs and its international expansion plans.
 

Fast fashion retailer Uniqlo is expanding its collection of Disney apparel and taking its partnership with Disney to a whole new level with a planned flagship store at Disney World.

The fast growing Japanese retailer will open a store in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in the spring. It will be the retailer's first store in the southeastern U.S. Uniqlo already has 42 stores in the U.S. and plans to open more stores this year.

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Canton, Mass. -- A Rockport veteran is returning to head up the company he left more than 30 years ago.

On Monday, investment firm Berkshire Partners and New Balance Holding completed their acquisition of The Rockport Company from the Adidas Group. As part of the transaction, New Balance affiliate Drydock Footwear will join with Rockport to form The Rockport Group. Bob Infantino was named CEO of the reorganized company.

New York -- Uniqlo, the fast-growing fast-fashion division of Japan’s Fast Retailing, is expanding its relationship with Disney Consumer Products. The retailer has even chosen a Disney property as the site of its first store in Florida.

Uniqlo on Monday announced a global collaboration with Disney Consumer Products to produce a new line called “Magic for All.”  In addition to new products, the collaboration will include pop-up displays, and in-store and online customer experiences.

New York -- Friends of Howard Schultz, the outspoken and politically progressive founder and CEO of Starbucks, are urging him to enter the Democratic race for President, according to a report by Fortune.

To read the full story, click here.
 

Hangzhou, China – Alibaba is launching an omnichannel partnership with one of professional basketball’s biggest stars. Alibaba Holding Group Inc. and Kobe Inc., a newly formed company by NBA player Kobe Bryant, will collaborate with Chinese media company Sina to create a new social media platform.