International Business

Widespread reports have Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell heading to Washington to serve as President Obama’s director of the Office of Management and Budget.

PARK CITY, Utah -- Skullcandy, a manufacturer of performance headphones, has named Rick Alden, the company's founder, former CEO and a current director, as Interim CEO. Jeremy Andrus has decided to step down from his positions as resident and CEO and a company director to join a private investment firm. He will serve as a consultant to the company over the next 12 months.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Heading into the toy industry's largest trade show next week, toy manufacturer, Hasbro, reported net revenues of $1.28 billion for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared with $1.33 billion in 2011. The company reported net earnings for the quarter of $130.3 million or 99 cents per diluted share.

Net revenues for the full-year 2012 were $4.09 billion compared with $4.29 billion in 2011. 

Net earnings for the full-year 2012 were $336 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, versus $385.4 million, or $2.82 per diluted share, in 2011.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) and Harbor Habitat for Humanity have completed construction on the homes built in partnership with Tynisha Murphy and the Patterson family, dedicating the homes in a ceremony that took place Dec. 8. The builds took place on side-by-side lots in the Harbor Shores community of Benton Harbor. 

ATLANTA — Retail merchandising solutions provider, Predictix, has named Tom Fischer managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Fischer will be responsible for managing Predictix’ EMEA sales, client implementation and support activities in a growing international business.

January same-store sales grew 4% at Costco’s U.S. locations excluding fuel sales.

AutoZone has elected Linda A. Goodspeed to its board of directors. Goodspeed is SVPand chief information officer (CIO) of The ServiceMaster Company, a position she has held since 2011.

"Linda's extensive background in information technology and the automotive industry will complement and enhance the collective skills of our Board," said Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO. "We are fortunate to have her as a new board member."

Prior to joining The ServiceMaster Company, Goodspeed was VP information systems for Nissan North America.

Target salvaged its fourth quarter with a 3.1% increase in January same store sales that followed disappointing results in December and November.

Target said sales for the five weeks ended February 2, increased 29.6% to nearly $6 billion due to the inclusion of an extra week in the recent reporting period.