Labor & Employment

Atlanta -- Rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s said Wednesday it has appointed interim CEO Ronald W. Allen as its permanent president and CEO.

Allen served as chairman and CEO of Delta Air Lines from 1987 to 1997, and has been a member of the Aaron's board since 1997.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the fourth quarter plummeted 40% on higher costs and aggressive discounting during the holiday selling season.

Net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was $218 million, compared with $365 million a year earlier. Sales dipped to $4.28 billion in the quarter, from $4.36 billion, matching Wall Street estimates.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 dropped to $2.9 million, from $32.8 million a year earlier.

Sales edged up 3.9% to $1.8 billion in the quarter, but dipped 0.4% to $7.1 billion for the full year. Profit for the year was $32.8 million.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Bayer Properties announced that Jay Wiseman has been named VP of acquisitions for the company.

Wiseman was previously with CBL & Associates Properties, Chattanooga, Tenn., where his responsibilities included acquisition of malls, strip centers and office buildings nationwide. He also sourced international investments and established investment platforms in Brazil and China.
 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sagging sales and declining profits plagued Sears Holdings during the fourth quarter as the company posted a $2.4 billion loss and announced several measures to bolster its balance sheet.

By Dave Spargo, [email protected]

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group announced that Mark T. Dufton has been named CEO and Neill J. Kelly has been named president of DJM Realty, Gordon Brothers’ real estate management affiliate.

Dufton has held the role of interim president of DJM Realty since December 2011. He is a former veteran of the company, after having spent nine years with DJM as principal and senior managing director.

Kelly is also a former DJM executive, having served as managing director from 1999 to 2003. He was previously principal at RK Realty Advisors.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion and that appears to be the case with Sam’s Club where a strong fourth-quarter performance is expected to continue in 2012 under the leadership of new president and CEO Rosalind Brewer.

The former Walmart store operations executive took the helm from outgoing Sam’s president and CEO Brian Cornell three weeks ago and is looking to build on the momentum he initiated and was evident in fourth quarter results reported earlier this week.