Labor & Employment

The globalization of Walmart’s domestic operations continued this week with the appointment of Judith McKenna to the role of chief operating office for Walmart U.S.

San Jose, Calif. – EBay Inc. is reportedly considering cutting up to 3,000 jobs early in 2015. According to the Wall Street Journal, the staff reductions would primarily occur in the EBay Marketplace unit as the company prepares to spin off its PayPal unit.   

Fairway Market announced that Howard Glickberg, whose grandfather took a fruit and vegetable stand in New York and turned it into a 15-store grocery chain, is retiring.

Glickberg most recently served as vice chair of real estate development for Fairway. He will remain a member of the retailer’s board of directors, Fairway said. He worked with the company for more than 40 years, serving as its CEO until 2011.

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson informed the company’s board of directors that he will retire shortly after the completion of the merger between Walgreens and Alliance Boots, of which shareholders are scheduled to vote on Dec. 29, 2014.    

Bentonville, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores has promoted Judith McKenna to COO for Walmart U.S., effective immediately.  She succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed executive VP of Walmart’s International People Division, effective immediately.    McKenna  will continue to report directly to Walmart U.S. president and CEO, Greg Foran. Ruiz will report to Walmart International president and CEO, David Cheesewright. 
  

New York - The cost of healthcare, the ability to maintain margins
 and the ability to continue to grow revenue are the top business challenges in the retail sector. That’s according to GE Capital’s new national survey of c-suite executives at middle-market companies (ranging from $10 million - <$1 billion in sales).  

Kearney, Neb. – The Buckle Inc. has made a number of reappointments to its executive staff. Kelli D. Molczyk has been appointed to the position of VP of women’s merchandising, Diane L. Applegate has been appointed to the position of VP of supply chain and merchandising operations, and Thomas B. Heacock has been appointed to the position of VP of finance, treasurer, and corporate controller and has been appointed as a member of the company’s executive committee.   

CANTON, Mass. - Dunkin’ Donuts is launching its own green building certification program, called DD Green, to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants.    In conjunction with the announcement, the company is celebrating the grand opening of a DD Green certified Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in Long Beach, California. Dunkin' Donuts will work with franchisees and construction managers to build 100 new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants DD Green certified by the end of 2016.