Labor & Employment

Mike Kahn, director of Alpha Camera Systems for Sony Electronics was named special advisor to the board of PMA, the Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations.

The move is long overdue for an 86 year old organization focused on serving the needs of the imaging industry as Kahn’s appointment marks the first time a manufacturer representative was named to a PMA executive committee.

BRUSSELS — Delhaize's U.S. division has a new leader.

The supermarket conglomerate announced that Roland Smith will serve as Delhaize America's president and CEO, as well as EVP of the Delhaize Group, effective Oct. 15. Smith is replacing Ronald Hodge, who will be retiring from his post this year. Hodge will serve in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.

MINNEAPOLIS — Moving ahead with its previously announced turnaround strategy, Supervalu has overhauled its executive leadership team.

Target’s second quarter sales increased 3.5% to $16.5 billion and the company’s profits grew 2.9% to $1.06, five cents better than analysts expected.

The company’s second quarter results were negatively affected by pre-opening expenses related to next year’s entry into Canada. Excluding those expenses, Target said its profits would have increased 4.6% to $1.12 compared to $1.07 last year. Including expenses related to Canada, Target increased its full year profit forecast to a range of $4.20 to $4.40 from an earlier guidance range of $4.10 to $4.30.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced that it is restructuring its executive leadership team to ensure alignment around the company’s goals and to better drive and execute the company’s business turnaround.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced that it is restructuring its executive leadership team to ensure alignment around the company’s goals and to better drive and execute the company’s business turnaround.

NEW YORK — Ralph Lauren has named Christopher Peterson as SVP and CFO. Peterson will assume his new role effective Sept. 24, and his areas of responsibility will include the company’s global finance and information technology organizations. He will report to Roger Farah, president and COO.

New York -- Ralph Lauren Corp. has appointed Christopher H. Peterson as SVP and CFO. He succeeds Tracey Travis, who resigned in July to join The Estee Lauder Cos. Inc.

Most recently, Peterson served as CFO of Proctor & Gamble Co.’s Global Household Care division.

MINNEAPOLIS — Richard Schulze has moved one step closer to achieving his goal of acquiring Best Buy. The company has agreed to let its founder and former chairman access to certain due diligence information and form an invesment group so that he may continue his efforts to attempt to buy the company.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Kenexa, a provider of human resources software and consulting services for approximately $1.3 billion in cash.

The acquisition helps make the Armonk, N.Y., company more competitive with database maker Oracle Corp. and German business software maker SAP AG, said Rick Sherlund of Nomura Equity Research, Kenexa’s software is intended to help companies recruit and manage talent through online social networking, collaboration and consulting tools.