International Business

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool announced it has been named to the 2011/2012 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the seventh consecutive year. In 2011, the company's centennial year, Whirlpool was named to both the World and North America lists. The DJSI tracks the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — HP announced that its board of directors has appointed Meg Whitman as president and CEO.

In addition, Ray Lane has moved from non-executive chairman to executive chairman of the board of directors, and the board intends to appoint a lead independent director promptly. These leadership appointments are effective immediately and follow the decision that Léo Apotheker step down as president and CEO and resign as a director of the company, the company reported.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said Friday that it has named Mark Kapnick senior VP in the firm’s New York office.

Kapnick will join SRS’ newly formed SRS Urban team, which focuses on the major urban retail markets in the United States. In the Metro New York market, he will help lead the SRS Urban push into landlord services and investment sales.

Kapnick was previously with Robert K. Futterman and Associates, first as director then senior managing director specializing in retail leasing and investment sales.
 

Chicago -- Amid economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence levels, retail CFOs are expecting a 3% increase in total 2011 sales, according to a recent survey by BDO USA, LLP. While the number reflects the study’s most optimistic sales forecast since 2007, it is down from the 4.7% sales increase reported by the Commerce Department in 2010.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Brands Group, parent to Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, said Friday that its international president Neal Yanofsky has resigned the company by mutual agreement.

Dunkin’s has initiated a search for his replacement. In the interim, CEO Nigel Travis will assume reporting responsibility for Dunkin' Donuts International, and Neil Moses, Dunkin' Brands CFO, will assume responsibility for Baskin-Robbins International.
 

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said Friday that it has finalized its real estate transaction with Canadian retailer Zellers with the selection of 84 additional Zellers leases. Target Canada will open between 125 and 135 stores, most by 2013. The discounter also entered into a deal with Sobey’s, Canada’s second largest supermarket chain, to supply its stores with food.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said it welcomed legislation that would require the State Department to speed up the visa application process for citizens from three key countries, saying the move would make it easier for tourists and business travelers to spend money in U.S. stores.

NEW YORK — Express is taking its brand of specialty retail apparel north of the border this September with the opening of its first location in Canada at Fairview Mall in Toronto.  

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said Thursday it welcomed legislation that would require the State Department to speed up the visa application process for citizens from three key countries, saying the move would make it easier for tourists and business travelers to spend money in U.S. stores.

Montreal -- Jewelry chain Birks & Mayors said Wednesday that its president and CEO Tom Andruskevich has said he will resign from the company, effective spring 2012, and will continue in a new board role as vice chairman.

His spring 2012 resignation is contingent upon the naming of a successor. He said he is leaving because he wants to pursue “board positions and advisory roles for luxury brands and other high-end companies.”

Andruskevich joined the company in his current capacity in June 1996.