International Business

Mississauga, Ontario -- Wal-Mart Stores isn’t about to let the grass grow under its feet in Canada. The discounter plans to spend about $753 million this fiscal year to expand its store presence in Canada, before rival Target Corp. begins its push in the country.

Topeka, Kansas — Payless ShoeSource, a division of Collective Brands, announced that it has signed two new franchise agreements with partners Emart, a business unit of Shinsegae Group, Seoul, for stores in Korea, and Central Marketing Group, a business unit of Central Group, Bangkok, for stores in Thailand and Vietnam, bringing the total countries, which will have franchised Payless stores to 20 countries.

Payless and its partners said that in 2012 they expect six store openings in Korea, as well as five stores each to open in Thailand and Vietnam.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters Inc. has appointed a former executive as CEO of its namesake brand. The company named Tedford Marlow as head of the Urban Outfitters Group, effective Feb. 6. Marlow he retired from the chain in 2010, after spending nine years as president of the Urban Outfitters brand.

The announcement came almost a month after Richard Hayne, the company's chairman and president, succeeded CEO Glen Senk, who resigned. Hayne co-founded the company in 1970.
 

Hong Kong -- Esprit Holdings said Thursday that it will close all 93 of its stores in North America, after abandoning previously announced plans to sell off the business or find a licensed operator to run the stores.

However, according to an emailed statement by Patrick Lau, head of investor relations and mergers and acquisitions, Esprit plans to find one or more license partners to maintain the brand’s presence in North America.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The TJX Companies announced Tuesday that Scott Goldenberg has been promoted to CFO, retaining his EVP title, effective Jan. 29, the beginning of TJX’s fiscal year. Goldenberg will oversee corporate finance for TJX and continue to report to Jeffrey Naylor who had resumed the CFO position in 2009. Naylor will continue as senior EVP, chief administrative officer and also have responsibility for other corporate functions, including Information technology, legal, risk management, and investor relations.

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple Monday named a replacement for former retail head Ron Johnson, who left the company last year to become CEO of JCPenney. The company announced that John Browett will join the company as SVP retail, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Browett comes to Apple from European technology retailer Dixons Retail, where he has been CEO since 2007. Beginning in April, he will be responsible for Apple’s retail strategy and the continued expansion of Apple retail stores around the world, the company said in a press release.

Framingham, Mass. -- The TJX Cos. announced Tuesday that Scott Goldenberg has been promoted to CFO, retaining his executive VP title, effective immediately.

Goldenberg will oversee corporate finance for TJX and continue to report to Jeffrey Naylor, who had resumed the CFO position in 2009. Naylor will continue as senior executive VP, chief administrative officer and also have responsibility for other corporate functions, including information technology, legal, risk management and investor relations.

Washington, D.C. -- CBRE announced Tuesday that Louis G. Christopher has joined the firm as vice chairman, charged with focusing on tenant representation on a local, national and global level.

Christopher was previously with Cushman & Wakefield’s, where he was chairman of the firm’s Tenant Advisory Group.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters said Tuesday that its debut store in Israel will open on Thursday at Ramat Aviv Mall, in Tel Aviv.

Ten additional locations are planned over the next month, in locations such as The Big Mall in Petach Tikva, Kiryat Ono Mall, and Mall of Haifa. The franchise stores will be operated by Fox-Wizel Ltd., a leading retailer and wholesaler in the region.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot announced Tuesday the release of its 2011 Corporate Citizenship Report, highlighting its commitment to business, ethics, diversity, environmental sustainability and community.

Highlights of the report include diversity initiatives such as its Historically Underutilized Businesses catalog, which features products by businesses owned by minorities, women, the disabled and veterans; its ranking as the greenest retailer in America; and its compliance training initiatives.