Labor & Employment

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. has named CFO Andre J. Hawaux as executive VP, COO/CFO. In addition to his existing responsibilities for finance, legal and IT, Hawaux has expanded his responsibilities to include store operations, real estate and HR.

Hawaux joined Dick’s in 2013 as executive VP, finance, administration and CFO. Prior to joining Dick’s, he was most recently president, consumer foods at ConAgra Foods Inc. Previously, he served as ConAgra Foods' executive VP, CFO from 2006 to 2009.
 

Moorseville, N.C. - Lowe's Companies Inc. has appointed James H. Morgan, 67, to the company's board, effective immediately. Today's announcement brings Lowe's board of directors to 12 members, 11 of whom are independent.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. will have to get along without the advice of its controversial founder, who announced he is stepping down from the company's board.

Chip Wilson, a sometimes controversial figure who helped build the Canadian yogawear retailer into an international success story, said he was resigning from the company's board.

"I believe that now is the right time to step away," Wilson said in a statement.

Wilson, who founded Lululemon in 1998, withdrew from day-to-day management in early 2012, and stepped down as chairman in late 2013.

Los Angeles - The Court of Paris has rejected every claim asserted by Gucci in a six-year trademark suit filed against Guess Inc., finding no trademark infringement, no counterfeiting, and no unfair competition. The court also completely denied Gucci’s request for $62.4 million in damages and, instead, Gucci was ordered by the court to pay Guess $34,000.

The court also invalidated three of Gucci’s “G” community and international trademarks, meaning Gucci cannot claim exclusive use to those marks any longer.

Framingham, Mass. – The TJX Companies Inc. has named William H. Swanson to the board of directors. Swanson, 65, is the former chairman and CEO of Raytheon Co., a technology and innovation company specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world.

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has named Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as executive VP and global chief legal and administrative officer. In this role, Pagni will oversee all global legal affairs for Walgreens Boots Alliance and its divisions, including strategy and mergers and acquisitions, working with acting CEO Stefano Pessina.

Vancouver – Dennis “Chip” Wilson, founder of Lululemon Athletica inc. is stepping down from Lululemon's board of directors. Wilson, who founded Lululemon in 1998, led the company through many business cycles as he expanded it from a small storefront in Vancouver to an international brand with over 250 stores.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - RPM Pizza LLC, the largest U.S. Domino's franchise, is getting a little bigger. RPM has acquired 45 Domino's stores throughout Indiana. RPM Pizza, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, will purchase 45 stores in Indiana in the biggest franchise-to-franchise purchase in Domino's history.

The acquisition includes nearly 40 stores in the Indianapolis metro area, and stores serving South Bend and Lafayette. Once completed, the acquisition will give RPM Pizza operations in seven states, employing more than 3,800 workers.