Labor & Employment

ALBANY, N.Y. — Trans World Entertainment has appointed veteran retail executive Martin Hanaka to its board of directors. Hanaka recently was the interim CEO of Guitar Center, Inc. from January 2013 to April 2013.

Albany, N.Y. -- Veteran retail executive Martin Hanaka has been appointed to the board of directors of Trans World Entertainment. Hanaka recently was the interim CEO of Guitar Center, Inc. from January 2013 to April 2013.

NEW YORK — The Carlyle Group has appointed former Procter & Gamble executive Susan Arnold as an operating executive in the firm’s Global Consumer & Retail group. Arnold begins her new role at the firm in September. 

As an operating executive, Arnold will provide strategic guidance to Carlyle professionals throughout the investment process, from sourcing to acquisition to exit and advise portfolio company executives on management, operational, branding and growth strategies.

New York -- Canadian home-improvement retailer Rona reported a loss of $136.5 million for the second quarter, compared with a profit of $36.9 million a year earlier, hurt by restructuring costs and tightened market conditions.

According to a report by Reuters, Rona revenue fell 4.6% to $1.21 billion, and same-store sales dipped 1%. Analysts expected revenue of $1.35 billion.

Boise, Idaho — WinCo Foods will open a 90,000-sq.-ft. discount supermarket in Bellingham, Wash., on Thursday.

The new store will initially employ 171. The employee-owned discount food chain operates 88 stores and typically ranks as the low priced leader in the markets where it operates.

PHILADELPHIA — Pep Boys, a leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain, announced the appointment of Jim Flanagan as chief human resources officer, effective August 26. 

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. announced that activist investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has resigned from the board of directors of the company, effective Aug. 12. His resignation comes in the wake of a very public and heated campaign in which he called for the ouster of Penney interim CEO Myron Ullman and chairman Thomas Engibous.

New York -- Jos. A. Bank Clothiers on Tuesday came under criticism from BeaconLight Capital LLC, which owns more than 1% of the men’s apparel chain. In an open letter to the company’s board, the investment manager called for a reorganization of the retailer's board and return of cash to shareholders, preferably through buy-backs.