Labor & Employment

Dead Sea mineral-based skin care brand Ahava has appointed Beth Ann Catalano as president of Ahava North America, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Catalano succeeds Elana Drell-Szyfer, who recently joined the ranks at Kenneth Cole Productions.

Michael Jeffries is still CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. The company has renewed Jeffries’ employment agreement for a second time, with this latest restructured agreement taking effect Feb. 1, 2014, when Jeffries' current agreement expires.

Hingham, Mass. – Building #19, the New England closeout retailer, which recently shut its doors after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is planning to reopen at least a few stores as specialty closeout rug retailers under the banner of “The Rug Dept.”

Tumi Holdings has named Joseph R. Gromek as chairman of the company’s board of directors. Gromek, who joined the board in April 2012, succeeds Richard P. Hanson, who has stepped down as chairman.

Until his retirement in February 2012, Gromek served as president and CEO of the Warnaco Group since April 2003, and as a member of the company’s board. From 1996 to 2002, Gromek served as president and CEO of Brooks Brothers. During the past 25 years, Gromek has also held senior management positions with Saks Fifth Avenue, Limited Brands and Ann Taylor Stores.

Product designer, marketer and distributor FirsTime Design Limited elevated Christopher Bering to the role of president and CEO.

The company, which does business as FirsTime Manufactory through its License Products subsidiary, said Bering will also serve as a member of the board. Bering previously served as president and COO and fills the position occupied by Pete Wierenga since January 2012. Wierenga will continue to serve as chairman of the board.

Chad Kessler was named chief merchandising and design officer at American Eagle Outfitters after the company reported a big decline in third-quarter profits and said it expects fourth quarter same-store sales to decline.

New York -- Barnes & Noble Inc. said is cooperating with a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into its accounting.

The SEC notified the bookseller Oct. 16 that it was investigating the company's restatement of earnings announced in July.
 
The agency’s New York regional office also said it was looking into a former non-executive employee's allegation that the company improperly allocated certain expenses between its Nook e-reader and retail businesses.

Stanley Black & Decker has added Debra Crew, president of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, to its board of directors. Crew joined PepsiCo in 2010 as president of the western region of PepsiCo Europe, and was promoted in 2012.

Prior to PepsiCo, she held a number of management and leadership roles at Mars, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and Kraft Foods.