International Business

Austin, Texas - Starmount has donated laptop computers to Retail ROI to help equip a computer lab at the Hogar de Niños Tía Tatiana School, an inner-city school in Herrera that’s located in an impoverished area in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The laptops will be used to help replace outdated computers at the school, which serves more than 500 children.

Levi Strauss has added Jenny Ming to its board of directors. Ming is president and CEO of Charlotte Russe, a specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to young women, with more than 500 stores across the US, a position she has held since October 2009.

Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Melissa A. Howell SVP of global human resources. Howell will report directly to chairman, CEO and president Blake Krueger.

Howell has more than 24 years of experience in human resource management with General Motors, one of the world's largest automobile companies, with more than 200,000 employees in more than 150 countries. Howell most recently served as SVP of global human resources and also held numerous other human resource leadership roles during her time with the company.  

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Kansas on Oct. 11. The store is located in Schulman Crossing in Garden City.  

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

Hasbro has signed a global licensing agreement with Pez International to develop a My Little Pony-branded line of Pez dispensers, Pez dextrose fizzy candy and fizzy rolls.

Hasbro will begin rolling out the new line beginning in early 2015 in Germany, France and Austria followed by additional markets worldwide. The new dispensers and candy will be on display at Hasbro Booth #D020 at Brand Licensing Europe in Olympia, London, October 7-9.

New York – Ann Inc. is opening its first Loft store in Mexico, continuing the company's international expansion. The store is located in the Antea Lifestyle Center in Queretaro, with additional locations planned for later this year in Mexico City's Parque Toreo Mall and Puebla's Angelopolis Mall.

Ann Inc. is working with its franchise partner Grupo Axo to establish its retail presence in Mexico.

PepsiCo has appointed Tony West EVP of government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective Nov. 24. He succeeds Larry Thompson, who is retiring after almost a decade of service.

New York -- Associated Foods Stores president Robert Sigel announced that Zulema Wiscovitch has joined the company as executive VP and chief administrative officer.