International Business

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples announced the appointment of Willem Vos as director of e-commerce, Staples Europe.

Vos will report to Peter Howard, senior VP, head of Staples online and marketing, Staples Europe.

AMSTERDAM — Staples has named Willem Vos as director of e-commerce for Staples Europe. Vos will report to Peter Howard, SVP, head of Staples online and marketing for Staples Europe.

DALLAS — On orders of the U.S. Department of Defense, The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, will for the first time in its 116-year history, name a civilian to the role of CEO/director.

Until such a person is named, COO Mike Howard will take over as acting CEO/director as the organization’s board of directors seeks a permanent replacement. 

Honolulu -- Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust announced plans to acquire 80% indirect ownership interest in Pearlridge Center, located in Honolulu, for about $290 million from partner Blackstone Real Estate Partners.

“With sales of nearly $500 per square foot and a dynamic growth profile, this strategic investment is consistent with our goal of enhancing the quality of our real estate portfolio,” said Michael Glimcher, chairman and CEO, Glimcher.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. will open 13 newly remodeled locations in the Houston area on March 28.

The updates stores feature more colorful signage and easy-to-navigate floor plans. The stores were redesigned based on customer feedback and shopping patterns.

Office Depot operates 1,677 stores in 60 countries, 46 of which are located in the Houston area.

San Francisco -- McKesson on Monday announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the independent banner and franchise businesses of Katz Group Canada in an all-cash transaction that closed March 25.

CINCINNATI — Paul Varga, chairman and CEO of Brown-Forman Corp., has been elected to the Macys Inc. board of directors.

Philadelphia -- The trustees of Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (“PREIT”) announced that Joseph F. Coradino will become CEO of the company as of the company’s annual meeting on June 7, succeeding Ronald Rubin, who will serve as executive chairman.

Coradino has been with PREIT and a predecessor company for three decades, serving since 2004 as president of PREIT Services, LLC and PREIT-Rubin, Inc., and as a member of the office of the chairman. He has been a trustee of PREIT since 2006.