Labor & Employment

Boston — Gordon Brothers Group, an advisory investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, has named Michael P. Muldowney to the post of CFO. He will work with all business units on transactional, strategic, financial and operational initiatives. Muldowney will also serve as a member of the executive committee.

Chicago – In many cases retailers have to come to expect “job-hoppers” who frequently change jobs, but in many cases they also avoid them. More than half of 182 retail hiring managers and human resource professionals (54%) polled in a recent CareerBuilder survey said they have hired a job-hopper and more than one-third (36%) said they have come to expect workers to job-hop.

Pittsburgh - Following a comprehensive fleet review, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. has identified 150 stores to close in North America during the next three years, including nearly 100 AE stores. For 2014, the company is planning to close approximately 50 AE and 20 aerie stores in North America.

Following disappointing results during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, which were consistent with the company’s expectations, American Eagle Outfitters has decided to close 150 stores in North America during the next three years, including nearly 100 AE stores.

For 2014, the company plans on closing approximately 50 AE and 20 aerie stores in North America. The store closings will translate to annualized after-tax savings of between $10 and $15 million beginning in 2015.

By Sandy Skrovan, U.S. Research Director, Planet Retail

On Target's Q1 results, Sandy Skrovan, U.S. Research Director at Planet Retail, comments:

"Don't expect a lot from Target this quarter. The data breach and subsequent fallout - including leadership turnover and ongoing shopper trust issues - weigh like an albatross around the retailer's neck. Besides dealing with internal issues, some broader retail metrics don't bode well for Target either, suggesting another disappointing quarter is on the cards."

San Bruno, Calif. – Wal-Mart is reportedly planning to substantially expand its e-commerce operation based in Sunnyvale, California. According to the Oakland Tribune, Wal-Mart intends to add hundreds of staffers to its global e-commerce unit there, bringing the total number of e-commerce employees to about 1,000.

In addition, Wal-Mart will lease a 107,000-sq.-ft. space in Sunnyvale to help house its e-commerce operations. Currently, the retailer employs about 550 e-commerce employees in Sunnyvale at an existing facility it will maintain.

Product lifecyle and reverse logistics leader Genco has appointed Jeremy Witte as chief operating officer for its wholly owned subsidiary, Genco Marketplace.

Minneapolis – Tony Fisher, president, Target Canada, is departing the company. Mark Schindele, senior VP merchandising operations, will assume the role of president, Target Canada.