Labor & Employment

SPARKS, Md. — McCormick announced that Chuck Langmead has been promoted to president of global industrial. In his new role, Langmead will help McCormick drive sales growth by aligning its customer intimacy efforts and driving its strategy consistently across McCormick's industrial businesses worldwide.

I have to admit, the recent announcement of the merger between Office Depot and OfficeMax took me by surprise. It’s not as though it doesn’t make sense — it’s logical both logistically and financially — but, while there had been a few rumblings and rumors, this is a dramatic move that took place with relatively little forewarning.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Tuesday reported net income of $82.5 million for the 52-week period ended Dec. 29. Even with one less week of sales, that's up 9.2% versus fiscal 2011, which was a 53-week period, the grocer noted. Sales were down slightly by 1.9% to $2.7 billion compared with the week-longer year-ago period. Comparable sales were down 2%. 

Adjusting for the 52-week to 53-week comparison, the grocer's 2012 net income increased 13.9% while sales and comparable store sales were flat.

New York -- Best Buy Co. named Ron Wilson as president and COO of its Canadian operations, effective immediately. Wilson will lead the business in Canada under the Future Shop and Best Buy online brands.

As SVP merchandising and e-commerce since 2008 for Best Buy Canada, Wilson led the strategic visions of Bestbuy.ca and Futureshop.ca. Wilson previously managed several other units within Best Buy Canada, including merchandising, operations and marketing.
 

New York -- Vornado Realty Trust is selling 10 million shares of J.C. Penney Co. in an unregistered secondary transaction, according to reports by CNBC and other media outlets.

Deutsche Bank is shopping around the sale of the Vornado shares, according to the report.

Vornado is Penney’s third-largest shareholder controlling some 8.5% of the company. Vornado chairman Steven Roth sits on the company's board.

Washington, D.C. -- According to published reports, President Obama will nominate Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell as director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Chevy Chase, Md. -- Chevy Chase Land Co. announced that Lucy Fraser has been named VP of asset management for the company.

Fraser previously served as VP of property management for Combined Properties.

Milwaukee -- NAI MLG Commercial announced that Tim Janusz and Brett Garceau have been promoted to VP.

Janusz specializes in office landlord and tenant representation, and Garceau specializes in the lease and sale of industrial properties.