Labor & Employment

Former Walmart China executives Rob Cissell and Shawn Gray have joined the retail subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, according to the Economic Times of India. Cissell will serve Reliance CEO and Gray will serve as COO, according to the newspaper.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. said Thursday that it has shifted executive VP store operations Brian Fiala to the position of executive VP human resources, responsible for all aspects of human resources, including training, recruitment, talent management, compensation and benefits and labor relations. He will report to John Standley, Rite Aid president and CEO.

Fiala succeeds Steve Parsons, who is leaving Rite Aid to take another position.

Now that Walmart has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in South African retailer Massmart a major competitor contends it will need to lay off 8.6% of its work force to improve its competitive position.

That’s according to South African media reports indicating rival Pick n Pay Stores said it was looking to eliminate 3,137 of its 36,673 positions. Conversely, Walmart has said it will create 15,000 jobs in South Africa within five years, implying a fairly robust level of expansion.

New York City -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled a lawsuit with Target Corp. regarding the rights of a disabled cart attendant in California's Orange County, the Associated Press reported.

Court papers filed on Tuesday reveal that Target agreed to pay former employee Jeremy Schott $160,000 and develop policies to respond to disabled employees' needs, the report said.

Tustin, Calif. -- Real estate brokerage firm Present Value Properties said Tuesday that Britt Nelson has joined the company as VP.

Previously founder and president of NewCity Development, Nelson was responsible for site selection, acquisition, and procurement of development projects. Other responsibilities included coordination of the overall development teams and municipal relations.

Nelson will be working with existing Present Value Properties' clients including Pizza Hut and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt franchisees.

PITTSBURGH — Thomas Dowd has been named GNC EVP, chief merchandising officer and general manager, the company announced in an SEC filing Friday.

Dowd has served as EVP store operations and development since April 2007.

The move follows the announcement in June that Beth Kaplan would be stepping down from her role as GNC president and chief merchandising officer. Following that announcement, GNC CEO Joe Fortunato reassumed his role of president.

New York City -- Survey results released Tuesday showed that higher salaries, job mobility, and a strong emphasis on “quality of life” benefits are redefining the job market in retail and fashion.

According to 24 Seven’s Fifth Annual Salary Survey, conducted in collaboration with the American Apparel & Footwear Association, 68% of respondents plan to make a career move in the next year, with nearly half already looking for a new job.

Bangalore, India -- According to multiple reports on Monday, India’s largest retailer has hired two former executives of Wal-Mart Stores’ China operations as its two top executives.

Reliance Industries Ltd., which operates 1,000 retail stores across India selling everything from produce to electronics, has named Rob Cissell as CEO of Reliance Retail Ltd. and has named Shawn Gray as COO.