International Business

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores on Friday will appoint Sylvia Mathews Burwell, a former senior executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to head its corporate foundation, according to the New York Times. She also will oversee the retail giant’s social, environmental and economic development programs in Africa.

Burwell replaces Margaret A. McKenna, who became the company foundation’s president in 2007.

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Friday that grants hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives aimed at keeping Sears Holdings Corp., along with CME Group Inc., which operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, headquartered in Illinois.

Lawmakers approved the business tax breaks earlier this month, but Quinn had not yet signed the bill. Both companies had openly threatened to leave the state without some kind of significant aid package.

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola on Thursday announced that Geoffrey Kelly will be retiring from his post as SVP and general counsel.

Kelly, who joined the company in 1970, will retire in February 2012. He has served in the role of SVP and general counsel since 2005.

Succeeding Kelly is Bernhard Goepelt, who will take on the role of SVP general counsel and chief legal counsel, effective immediately. Kelly will remain SVP during a transition period, Coca-Cola noted.

Los Angeles -- CBRE said Friday that Michael F. Smith has been promoted to president of the company’s Western Division. Smith, who has led CBRE’s San Francisco Bay area operations since 2002, succeeds Steven Swerdlow, who has been appointed COO of the Americas.

In his new role, Smith will direct CBRE’s operations in more than 46 offices in nine states, with responsibility for all lines of business. He will continue in his role as Bay Area market leader until a successor is named.
 

New York City -- Global architecture and design firm Callison announced Friday the acquisition of New York City-based Barteluce Architects & Associates.

This acquisition will grow Callison’s New York team to over 75 architects. Since Jan. 1, 2011, Callison has added more than 200 professionals to its global offices and the company said it plans to make more strategic acquisitions and investments in the future.

By Jeff Kim, [email protected]

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced the appointment of Luke Petherbridge as senior VP capital markets. In this role, Petherbridge will be primarily responsible for capital raising, actively managing the balance sheet and maintaining strong lender relationships.

Yes, you read that correctly. Walmart will need to hire an estimated 4.3 million people over the course of the next five years to keep pace with anticipated growth and turnover. No wonder the company is such a big supporter of an organization known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), which held its Global Partner Summit in Rogers, Ark. earlier this week.