International Business

NEW YORK & LONDON — Nook Media, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, has teamed up with Pearson, a leading global learning company, to accelerate customer access to digital content.

New York City -- A federal mediator announced Friday that the union for longshoremen along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico has agreed to extend its contract for 30 days.

The extension averts a potential strike that could have crippled operations at ports that handle about 40% of all U.S. container cargo, and it comes after the union and an alliance of port operators and shipping lines resolved a royalty payment issue that had held up contract resolution. Exact terms have not been made public.

Some are merchants, with long careers in brick-and-mortar stores. Others are tech trailblazers, using new media to match merchandise and buyers. Others are influencing retail in less direct, but no less significant, ways. All share an ability to create new opportunities and, in their own way, are looking to reinvent the shopping experience. And all wield a great deal of influence in today’s complex retail landscape.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke claims to love working for a company where success and size have resulted in high expectations, but that love affair may be ending in 2013.

Mohawk Industries plans to acquire leading ceramic tile manufacturer The Marazzi Group.

The $1.5 billion acquisition will make Mohawk, a flooring industry leader best known for carpeting, the world leader in ceramic tile, according to the company. The Marazzi Group is said to be the leading manufacturer and marketer of ceramic tile in all its major geographies, including Russia, the United States, Italy, France and Spain, with 2011 revenues of nearly $1.2 billion. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013.

New York -- Walgreens fiscal first-quarter earnings dropped nearly 26% as costs tied to a couple big deals and Hurricane Sandy helped put a bigger-than-expected dent in the chain's performance.

Walgreens earned $413 in the quarter million, compared with net income of $554 million in the year-ago period. Sales fell 4.6% to $17.32 billion, with same-store sales down 8%.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Symantec, a global leader in security, backup and availability solutions, has appointed Stephen Gillett as its EVP and COO.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Interactive multichannel retailer HSNi has appointed BBC executive Ann Sarnoff to its board of directors.

Sarnoff will also serve on HSNi’s Compensation and Human Resources Committee. Her appointment expands the number of board members to ten.

Karen Roberts was named EVP and general counsel for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on Thursday amid the retailer’s ongoing investigation in possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Roberts, 42, is a 17 year Walmart veteran who most recently served as EVP and president of Walmart Realty for Walmart U.S.. However, prior to that, she held the position of SVP and chief compliance officer for Walmart U.S. where she oversaw the establishment of food and product safety programs and a recycling program.

Walmart’s ongoing investigation into bribery allegations was thrust into the spotlight again this week after the New York Times published results of its own investigation.