Labor & Employment

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. announced Thursday that Tom Wyatt, president of Old Navy, will leave the chain, effective Feb. 3, 2012. The company named two senior Old Navy executives — Nancy Green, executive VP and chief creative officer, and Tom Sands, executive VP of stores and operations — to assume his duties while a search is held for a permanent replacement.

Wyatt, 56, was appointed president of Old Navy in 2008. He is leaving the chain to become the CEO of Portland, Ore.-based childhood education company Knowledge Universe.

Woodland Hills, Calif. — Great American Group, a provider of asset disposition, valuation and appraisal services, has appointed Mike Wyse to a new VP position at the company.

In the new role, Wyse will focus on generating revenue through the cross-promotion of all Great American Group’s services with an emphasis on the retail services sector. 

New York City -- The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that it has named five additional retail executives to its board of directors. Each new member, announced during NRF’s101st Annual Convention and Expo in New York, will serve a three-year term.

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes announced that Elizabeth Crystal has joined Lane Bryant as senior VP/CMO.

Crystal will develop and lead the brand positioning, marketing, and advertising strategies for the Lane Bryant and Cacique brands. She was most recently the senior VP, worldwide marketing for Revlon and Almay Color Cosmetics.
 

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Realigning U.S. sales, consolidating U.S. management centers and streamlining corporate and business unit organizations are on the to-do list of Kraft Foods as it prepares to spin off its business in two independent public companies before the end of the year.

San Francisco -- A Tuesday report by Reuters said that Wal-Mart filed a motion on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed last October by a regrouping of women whose earlier gender bias class action was ended by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy announced that Shari Ballard and Mike Vitelli, who had both been president of Best Buy's domestic business, will take on separate jobs, effective immediately. The retailer, which posted disappointing holiday results, said it was undertaking the changes to accelerate its strategy by aligning the company's senior operating talent with its highest priorities.

Atlanta -- Aaron's announced that Jeannie M. Cave has been hired as the company's new VP real estate and construction. She will be responsible for a number of activities including the development of strategies that support Aaron's real estate goals and the management of the company's real estate portfolio for both company-operated and franchised stores.

Cave brings 10 years of leadership experience from Cox Enterprises.
 

New York City -- Saks Inc. announced that Jack L. Stahl, 58, was appointed to the company’s board of directors effective Jan. 16. He also will serve on the audit committee of the board.

From 2002 through 2006, Stahl served as president and CEO of Revlon. Prior to joining Revlon, he spent over 20 years with The Coca-Cola Co.
 

New York City -- Former president Bill Clinton delivered a keynote address entitled “Embracing Our Common Humanity” to an overflow crowd Monday morning at the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & Expo in New York.

In his speech, Clinton spoke about the inequality, instability and the unsustainable way of life which makes up the world today, and said there remains a strong connection between social opportunity and economic opportunity.