Labor & Employment

Consumer electronics and appliance retailer Hhgregg came up short in its second quarter.    It also exited the Wisconsin market.     The company reported a loss of $18.4 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, with a loss of 66 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring costs and asset impairment costs, came to 51 cents per share. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations.  

Lumber Liquidators has not had much luck getting its top executives to stick around as of late.   The company's chief compliance officer, Ray Cotton, quietly resigned in May of 2015.   Then, in November, it elected John Presley as chief executive -- the second time that year it had to change CEOs.  

Target Corp. continues to beef up its supply chain management capabilities.    The discounter announced it has appointed Shekar Natarajan to the newly-created role of senior VP, network planning and operational design, effective Nov. 20.   Natarajan, a 15-year supply chain veteran, was most recently VP of last mile operations, emerging sciences and operational excellence at Walmart. He also held leadership roles at Walt Disney Company, Anheuser Busch and PepsiCo.   

The Woodmont Company has hired Pendleton Mills real estate executive John Geddis to handle leasing at the firm’s growing outlet center portfolio. His title will be senior VP of brokerage services.   Geddis gained extensive experience on both the owner and tenant sides of the business in a 20-year career, with stints at Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties, as well as Samsonite. At Pendeton, he oversaw development for the company’s 50 owned retail and outlet locations.  

On the heels of the announcement that Walter Robb would step down as co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, more changes may be in store the grocery chain.   One of Whole Food’s 10 largest shareholders has met with potential activist investors explore making major changes to the retail, including replacing management and exploring a sale of the company, Bloomberg reported.

Walmart is setting some lofty goals for itself on such critical issues as sustainability and job creation.    In remarks Friday at the Net Impact Conference, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon outlined a "new roadmap" that will guide the company’s role in society on critical issues during the next several years, and pointed to a “new era of trust and transparency.”  

There’s going to be change in the leadership structure at Whole Foods Market that will leave founder John Mackey as the sole CEO of the company.   Walter Robb, a 25-year Whole Foods veteran, is stepping down as co-CEO of the chain, effective Dec. 31. Robb, who has shared the CEO title with Mackey for six years, will remain on the board of directors and continue to serve as a senior advisor to the company and as chairman of the Whole Kids Foundation and Whole Cities Foundation.     

That was fast.   Anne Dament, senior VP of grocery merchandising for Target Corp., is leaving the chain, after less than 18 months on the job. Her last day will be Nov. 18.   Damen’s exit will mark the third high-level executive departure at Target in less than three months. In August, the chain’s chief marketing officer, Jeff Jones, resigned to join Uber. And in September, chief digital officer Jason Goldberger left.