International Business

First Data Corporation has bolstered its senior leadership team as part of its ongoing transformation from a payments processor to a collaborative technology company and solutions provider for merchants and financial institutions around the world.

The company promoted two executives to new roles: Barry McCarthy to lead four strategic businesses including the STAR Network and Sanjiv Das to lead First Data’s international business. The company has also brought in two new hires: Andrew Gelb to lead the financial services business and Adam Rosman as general counsel.

Branded lifestyle apparel and footwear company VF Corporation has promoted Scott A. Roe, currently VP, controller and chief accounting officer, as CFO. Roe replaces SVP and CFO Robert K. Shearer, who announced plans to retire in March 2015, after 28 years with the company.

Seattle - Starbucks Corp. opens its first community store in Korea, located in the Daehakro neighborhood of Seoul, on Oct. 1. Thirty cents from every purchase at this store will go to Green Umbrella ChildFund Korea (GUCFK) to directly support lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program.

New York -- Authentic Brands Group, a global brand development and licensing company, announced an agreement with Reliance Brands Limited (Reliance) to bring casual luxury lifestyle brand Juicy Couture to India in fall 2015.

Toano, Va. – Lumber Liquidators is promoting Ray Cotton to senior VP, chief compliance and sustainability officer. Cotton, previously VP, chief compliance and sustainability officer, will continue to manage Lumber Liquidators' quality assurance, sustainable sourcing, loss prevention, risk management and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of global trade.

Mars Petcare has opened a state-of-the-art, Gold-LEED certified $110 million global innovation center in Thompson's Station, Tennessee. The new campus is the third Mars Petcare innovation center and first in the United States.

The company selected the location in Thompson's Station in part because Tennessee is home to Mars facilities in Cleveland, Chattanooga, Lebanon and Franklin (two locations).

New York -- Swedish fast-fashion chain H&M was named “International Retailer of the Year” at the 8th annual World Retail Awards dinner in Paris. The awards were presented during the World Retail Congress, which is being held this week in Paris.

Fast Retailing, the Japanese parent company of Uniqlo and other brands, was named “Retailer of the Year.”