Labor & Employment

Wal-Mart Stores’ online push continues.

The retailer will merge its Bentonville-based information systems division with its Silicon Valley-based technology unit, zWalmartLabs, next month, Reuters reported.

The merger will create a new group called Walmart Technology.

The chain’s CIO, Karenann Terrell, and chief technical officer, Jeremy King, will continue to lead the information systems group and zWalmartLabs, respectively. Both will report to Neil Ashe, head of the chain e-commerce division, the report said.

The good works of the NRF Foundation will continue another year under the leadership of HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman and be complemented by the insights of four newly elected board members.

Ahead of the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York, the trade group’s non-profit arm said HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman would serve for another year as board chair and named four other retail industry executives to two-year board terms.

Ascena Retail Group has a new senior vice president to lead the company through its next phase of growth.

The company announced that Duane Holloway has been named Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective immediately. Holloway will serve on the company’s leadership team and report to David Jaffe, President and CEO. He will be responsible for overseeing all legal matters for the Company.

J.C. Penney Company appointed Joe McFarland as executive VP of stores, effective immediately, succeeding Tony Bartlett.

McFarland, similar to J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison, is a Home Depot veteran. He worked at the home improvement giant for over 20 years, most recently as president of its Northern and Western Divisions, where he was responsible for the sales and operations of up to 800 stores in 24 states. McFarland began his career at the chain as a sales associate.

Aaron's has assembled a new senior leadership team to position the company for growth and success.

The company, led by CEO John W. Robinson, announced the following changes on Tuesday:

• Gilbert L. Danielson will step down as CFO. Until his retirement at the end of 2016, Danielson will remain executive VP, serving as a senior advisor to the leadership team and managing certain strategic projects.

Walmart said it will close 269 stores worldwide this year, including many of its smallest-format stores, in a move that CEO Doug McMillon characterized as being more disciplined about growth. It is one of the largest number of stores closures that Walmart has ever announced at one time.

Has founder and ousted CEO Dov Charney made his last stand at American Apparel?

The board of American Apparel Inc. rejected a $300-million takeover bid from Hagan Capital Group and Silver Creek Capital Partners — the investors aligned with Charney — according to the Los Angeles Times.

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group announced the appointment of John Dattilo as director, real estate of the commercial & industrial division, to the Chicago office. Dattilo will oversee the analysis, acquisition and sale of industrial real estate assets.