Labor & Employment

Plano, Texas — Rent-A-Center, Inc. has appointed two new senior executives. The company named Guy J. Constant as executive VP finance, CFO and treasurer, and Jody Diaz as senior VP HR and chief people officer, both effective June 16, 2014.

Maria Martinez was elevated to the role of chief human resources officer at HSN, Inc., a $3.4 billion interactive multichannel retailer.

Burlington Stores president and CEO Tom Kingsbury has the operator of 523 stores headed in the right direction with an off-price model that is delivering results and poised for expansion.

Target has bolstered its digital security efforts with the appointment of former General Motors and General Electric executive Brad Maiorino to the newly created role of SVP and chief information security officer.

Ankeny, Iowa — Casey’s General Stores reported that the board of directors elected Terry W. Handley to serve as president of the Company, effective immediately.  He  will continue to serve in his present role of COO.

Houston — Mattress Firm Holding Corp. announced the promotion of Alex Weiss to executive VP and CFO of the company, effective July 30, 2014, the beginning of the retailer’s third fiscal quarter.  He succeeds Jim Black who transitions into the role of senior corporate advisor to Mattress Firm through the end of the current fiscal year.

The OurPet's Company, a leading proprietary pet supply company, has promoted Gabriella DeSantis to VP of marketing.

DeSantis joined the company in July 2012 as senior director of marketing and has been responsible for overseeing the execution of the company's new two-brand marketing strategy. The company also credits her with the successful launch of several new products.

Ulta Beauty has announced that Vanessa Wittman, SVP and CFO of Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility, has been appointed to its board and as a member of its audit committee.

Roughly 1,300 American Eagle Outfitters employees are participating this year in the retailer’s second annual AEO Better World Community Day.

The operator of more than 1,000 stores throughout the U.S. and several international markets developed the community involvement initiative last year as a means to unite employees for a common cause to make a difference at the local level. The company designated Tuesday, June 10 as Better World Day.

Activist investor Carl Icahn on Friday reported a 9.4% stake in Family Dollar, making him the company’s largest shareholder and prompting concerns of a hostile takeover.
 
Family Dollar has responded by adopting a one-year shareholder rights plan with a 10% trigger that would prevent any investor from gaining a controlling interest of the company without board approval.