Labor & Employment

New York -- Grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash has promoted Dave Staples, current executive VP and CFO, to COO. Staples will oversee all three operating segments of the company: retail, wholesale and military distribution. He will continue to serve as CFO until his replacement is hired.

Staples joined SpartanNash in January 2000, serving as the company’s executive VP and CFO since November of 2000

Mahwah, N.J. - Ascena Retail Group Inc. has named board member Randy L. Pearce to the newly created role of lead independent director. As lead independent director, Pearce will preside at executive sessions of the independent directors, will serve as liaison between the independent directors and the chairman of the board and between the independent directors and senior management, and will call meetings of the independent directors.

Grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash is looking to a former Walgreens executive to help drive growth.

Derek Jones, currently SpartanNash’s EVP, food distribution, has been promoted to president, wholesale and distribution operations. He will oversee the entire supply chain, including military supply chain operations.

The retail industry continued to backslide on Fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, but the slight may not be as bad as it seems.

The 2015 version of the list included 10 retailers compared to 12 retailers on the 2014 version and 14 retailers on the 2013 version. Notable inclusions on the 2015 list were Wegman’s (7), Container Store (27), QuikTrip (54),Whole Foods Market (55), Recreational Equipment (58), Build-A-Bear (59), CarMax (64), Publix (81), Zappos (86) and Nordstrom (93).

Vestis Retail Group, which operates Bob’s Stores, Eastern Mountain Sports and Sport Chalet, has named a Children's Place veteran as its next CFO.

New York -- Robert Nardelli, the former chairman and CEO of The Home Depot and Chrysler, is joining Pep Boys.

Nardelli has been appointed to Pep Boys’ board of directors, bringing the current size of the board to nine directors.

Pittsburgh – American Eagle Outfitters Inc. soared past Wall Street expectations in the fourth quarter, helped by reduced promotions and discounts and the elimination of asset impairments. The teen retailer on Wednesday posted better-than-expected fourth quarter results and issued an upbeat outlook for the first quarter, projecting earnings of $0.09 to $0.12 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.07 per share.

New Albany, Ohio – It was tough going for Abercrombie & Fitch in the fourth quarter, with declines in both income and sales. Looking ahead, the company said its priorities include increasing comparable sales trends in both its U.S. and international stores, making strategic investments in its omnichannel business, ongoing expense reductions, and selective expansion in high-growth international markets.

New York – A Dutch court has reportedly set aside a $449.5 million arbitration payment Tiffany & Co. had been ordered to make to Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group AG in December 2013. According to the New York Times, a three-member panel of judges ruled in favor of a counterclaim Tiffany filed in March 2014.

New York – Activist investor Starboard Value LP, which holds a 4.5% ownership stake in Staples Inc., is telling Staples it needs to improve its board of directors to complete a proposed acquisition of Office Depot. In an open letter to members of the Staples board from Starboard Value managing member Jeffrey C. Smith, the combined companies’ board must have the “proper skill set” in place to oversee the integration.