Labor & Employment

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday promoted Robert Clark as group VP non-perishables.

"Robert brings impactful leadership and extensive merchandising experience to our team," stated Michael Donnelly, Kroger's SVP merchandising. "His valuable knowledge of our customers across the country will further strengthen our strategic direction."

As group VP, Clark will be responsible for grocery, health and beauty, adult beverage, general merchandise and pharmacy.

New York -- OfficeMax Inc. and Office Depot have formally announced an agreement under which the two companies would combine in an all-stock merger that would transform the office supply sector of retail. The merger, which creates a single company with nearly $18 billion in revenue, was unanimously approved by the board of directors of both chains.

NEW YORK — Build-A-Bear CEO Maxine Clark has joined the Foot Locker board of directors. 

Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshop in 1997.  She has extensive experience in the retail industry, having also served as president of Payless ShoeSource Inc. and for 19 years as an executive of The May Department Stores Company.

Nashville -- A federal judge in Nashville said Wednesday that Wal-Mart Stores’ female employees in Tennessee and four other southern states cannot pursue sex-discrimination claims against Wal-Mart through a class action lawsuit. The class action is denied because it was filed too late.

According to U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger, the class claims are “time-barred,” citing a 1988 decision by the federal appeals court in Cincinnati in a separate case, known as Andrews v. Orr, which blocks the women from joining a new class action.

ATLANTA — Ingrid Saunders Jones, SVP global community connections for the Coca-Cola Company and chair of the Coca-Cola Foundation will retire after 30 years with the company, effective June 1. 

A well-respected global leader, Jones joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1982 and has held roles of increasing responsibility around the Company’s corporate giving and community outreach. She has served as Chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation since 1991.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- Stater Bros. announced Monday that it has promoted Dan Meyer to EVP retail operations, charging him with oversight of retail operations for all 167 Stater Bros. supermarkets and the corporate training center.

A 42-year veteran of the company, Meyer most recently served as SVP retail operations.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. has promoted Dan Meyer to the position of EVP retail operations. In this position, Meyer will be responsible for the retail operations of all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Training Center.  

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group announced it has named Ronnie Robinson to the position of president of Ascena Global Sourcing (AGS).

David Jaffe, president and CEO of the Ascena Retail Group, commented: “Leveraging our sourcing capability across all our brands is an important strategic initiative for Ascena. Ronnie’s experience and accomplishments make him the ideal candidate to lead this effort.”