International Business

New York -- The world’s largest retailers have been scaling back their global expansion activities, particularly in Asia, and turning their attention inward by integrating operations and strengthening their store, Internet and mobile sales channels, according to a new report by Accenture.
    

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Unger Global has appointed William D. Ecker as its new CEO.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Cantor Colburn, a leading intellectual property law firm, has hired partner Daniel Chung, former chief trademark counsel at Johnson & Johnson.

Chung has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of trademark and copyright counseling, enforcement, strategy and portfolio management, having held senior counsel positions at several multinational global corporations and having worked in private practice.  

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec — Canadian hardware retailer and one-time Lowe’s buyout prospect Rona has appointed Alain Brisebois the company’s new EVP and chief commercial officer.

Brisebois will seek to improve operational efficiency and synergy among the company's purchasing, merchandising, procurement and marketing activities.

NEW YORK — The world’s largest retailers have been scaling back their global expansion activities, particularly in Asia, and turning their attention inward by integrating operations and strengthening their store, Internet and mobile sales channels, according to a new report by Accenture. 

Brussels, Belgium -- Global supermarket operator Delhaize Group, whose U.S. divisions include Food Lion and Hannaford Bros., has named Maura Smith as executive VP, general counsel and general secretary. Smith formerly served as executive VP of government affairs, general counsel and secretary of PepsiCo and has 30 years of corporate legal experience.

Smith will report to CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers and is succeeding Michael Wallers, who is entering a planned retirement.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is shaking up its senior management team with five promotions and two new appointments. John Culver, head of the China-Asia Pacific region with more than 10 years of Starbucks experience, is being promoted to group president, China and Asia Pacific (CAP), channel development and emerging brands. Jeff Hansberry, a three-year Starbucks veteran who has worked on the channel development and emerging brands team, is being promoted to president of China and Asia Pacific and will report to Culver.

Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz announced changes to the company’s senior leadership team, aimed to further accelerate the company’s global growth plans.

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Nike has promoted VP Michael Spillane to VP and GM of Nike’s Greater China geography effective June 1. 

Spillane was most recently the CEO and president of Umbro, which Nike divested of last year. Spillane replaces Craig Cheek who will move to a global role as VP and GM of Nike’s Young Athletes, where he will oversee strategy and drive growth supporting the company’s key categories around the world.

Kellogg’s North American first quarter results were solid, but its performance overseas, particularly in the U.K., helped bolster its results. The company reported net sales of $4 billion, an increase of 12%. Meanwhile, internal net sales, which exclude the effects of foreign currency translation, acquisitions, dispositions and integration costs, rose by 2.2 percent over the same period.