Labor & Employment

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has agreed to pay $2.1 million to Massachusetts towns to settle alleged prescription drug overcharges under the workers’ compensation insurance system.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said Wednesday that Rite Aid has overcharged state agencies and at least 100 cities and towns to fill prescriptions for people receiving workers' compensation since 2002.

Bentonville, Ark. -- The Walton Family Foundation revealed Wednesday that it will donate $50 million to Teach For America, a commitment that stands to nearly double the size of the organization’s teaching ranks.

The charity that was created by the founder of Wal-Mart Stores will mete out half of the funds over a three-year period, and will increase the number of teachers to 15,000 by 2015. The remaining half of the donation will support the training of existing Teach for America instructors in seven communities.

Bentonville, Ark. -- A Wednesday report by Bloomberg said that Wal-Mart Stores has named Morten Knudsen as CFO for Asia, as the retailer recasts its leadership roles in the region amidst top-heavy turnover.

Knudsen, who was previously VP for corporate finance in Asia for Danone, takes the financial chief spot for Wal-Mart Asia effective Sept. 1.

Since May, Wal-Mart has lost Japanese chief Toru Noda and three of its top executives in China, including the CFO and COO Roland Lawrence and Rob Cissell, respectively.
 

Amsterdam -- The Tommy Hilfiger Group said Wednesday it has named John Ermatinger as CEO of the company's Asia business, effective Aug. 1.

Ermatinger was previously president of Gap Asia Pacific for two years and president of Gap Japan for three years. Under his leadership, Gap successfully launched the brand in China.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the art and science of supply chain and logistics management, Dr. James R. Stock will receive Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) 2011 Distinguished Service Award.

Stock serves as the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing at the University of South Florida and becomes the 46th person to receive the annual award since it was created in 1965. He will be honored during the opening general session on Monday, Oct. 3, at CSCMP’s Annual Global Conference in Philadelphia.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million's efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores ended unsuccessfully because the company could not agree with Borders on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced, the company announced Monday.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday promoted Donna Giordano to the role of president of the Ralphs division.

Giordano, 57, has been president of the company's Quality Food Centers division, based in Seattle, since 2002. She succeeds Mike Donnelly, who was recently promoted to SVP merchandising for Kroger.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted its current Quality Food Centers division president Donna Giordano to president of the Ralphs Division.

Giordano, who has been based in Seattle with QFC, replaces Mike Donnelly, who was promoted to senior VP merchandising for Kroger. She will be based in Los Angeles.
 

Washington, D.C. -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence in the United States took an unexpected upward turn in July, from an eight-month low.

Results were led by a rebound in jobs’ outlook over the next six months.

The Conference Board’s index climbed to 59.5 from a revised 57.6 reading in June that was lower than previously estimated, according to Bloomberg research. Economists predicted the July gauge would fall to 56, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.

Toronto -- Sears Canada, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corp., said Monday it has hired former Limited Brands online executive VP Steven Goldsmith as its executive VP merchandising, apparel and accessories.

The move comes after the resignation of Sears Canada CEO Dene Rogers and subsequent replacement by former Loblaw Cos. executive Calvin McDonald.