Labor & Employment

By now anyone who receives this weekly newsletter has heard or read something about Walmart’s alleged Mexican bribery scandal and cover up.

Plano, Texas -- On Thursday, J.C. Penney and CEO Ron Johnson announced a new lineup of executive players to join the department store retailer’s team, one of them from the ranks of Apple.

Benjamin Fay, senior director of retail real estate, design and development for Apple, has been named executive VP real estate, store design and development for J.C. Penney.

Chicago -- Survey results released Thursday by WorkInRetail.com found that about one-third (32%) of retail hiring managers use social networking sites to research job candidates.

The new survey from WorkInRetail.com – CareerBuilder’s job site for retail professionals, found that of the retail employers who do not research candidates on social media, 16% said their company prohibits the practice. Nine percent report they do not currently use social media to screen, but plan to start.

New York -- Brixmor Property Group announced the addition of 11 leasing associates and the appointment of three Brixmor leasing representatives during the past six months with its focus on increasing the portfolio’s occupancy, further strengthening retailer relationships, and enhancing revenue from ancillary programs.

Denver -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services announced that Jon Hendrickson has been named associate director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Denver.

Hendrickson joined Marcus & Millichap’s sales intern program in 2004, became an agent in 2006 and was promoted to senior associate in 2009.
 
 

Mexico City -- A Wall Street Journal report on Thursday said that the Mexico’s Ministry of Public Functions – the country’s public-sector watchdog – will investigate new-store permits secured by Wal-Mart’s Mexico division, Wal-Mart de Mexico.

The agency is looking for misconduct on the part of federal government employees in granting construction and other permits, according to WSJ.

HOUSTON — Mid-price apparel retailer Stage Stores has named Steven Lawrence as chief merchandising officer, effective April 30. Lawrence will be responsible for all of the merchandising, planning and allocation functions of the company.

Prior to joining Stage Stores, Lawrence spent 11 years with JCPenney, where he was most recently co-chief merchant EVP GMM men’s, kids and home.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — More than a year after The Children's Place Retail Stores began its search for a new chief financial officer, following the departure of EVP finance and adminstration, Susan Riley, the company has named Steven Baginski as CFO. He will report to Eric Bauer, COO. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Amidst allegations of involvement in a foreign bribery scandal, Wal-Mart Stores vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright has vacated his seat on the board of life insurer MetLife, according to a Tuesday announcement by Wal-Mart.
 
In a letter to MetLife CEO Steve Kandarian, Castro-Wright said that the recent events at Wal-Mart would require his “immediate and personal attention. Accordingly, I now must focus my energy in spending personal time with my family and in protecting my good name and business reputation.”

New York -- A Wednesday report by Reuters said that the Mexican federal comptroller’s office has given the go-ahead to open an investigation into allegations that Wal-Mart Mexico bribed officials to expand its business in the country.

"If wrongdoing attributable to federal public officials is detected, the federal government will take action," the office said.