Labor & Employment

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores disclosed in an email Friday that its China senior VP operations has left the company.

According to a Friday report by Bloomberg, Shawn Gray has left the company, but no reason for the departure has yet been given.
 

Daqing, China -- China supermarket chain QKL Stores announced Friday that its COO Alan Stewart has resigned, effective immediately.

The retailer said Stewart has left to pursue other opportunities. He will continue to serve as a consultant to the chain.

The Assistant COO, Xishuang Fan, has been promoted to COO.
 

TOPEKA, Kan. — Matthew Rubel is stepping down as CEO of Collective Brands, the company announced Thursday. Rubel will also give up his role as chairman of the board and as a director for the company. Michael Massey has been named the interim CEO and Scott Olivet has been named the company's non-executive chairman.

HOUSTON — Men's Wearhouse has named Douglas Ewert president and CEO of the company, succeeding George Zimmer.

As previously announced, Zimmer will continue as executive chairman of the board of directors.

Zimmer stated, "I am excited to turn over the day-to-day reins of Men's Wearhouse to Doug. I know he has the same passion for this company and its people as I do. With him leading our efforts, we will continue to provide the highest level of service to our customers and our unique culture will thrive."  

HERSHEY, Pa. — Just one month after filling in as the interim leader of chocolate giant Hershey, John Bilbrey officially took the reigns as president and CEO of the company.

Bilbrey also was elected to Hershey's board of directors, Hershey said Wednesday. Bilbrey, who served as the company's EVP and COO until May, replaced David West, who exited left his post after 10 years to become the chief executive at Del Monte Foods.

Alexandria, Va. -- A poll from the Society of Human Resource Management, released Thursday, showed that the number of U.S. organizations with a formal succession plan in place decreased during the past five years from 29% in 2006 to 23% in 2011.

While less than a quarter of businesses have a formal plan in place, the numbers improve when informal plans are considered. More than one-third, or 38%, of human resources professionals said their organization currently has an informal succession plan or process in place (up from 29% in 2006).

Dallas -- Cypress Equities Cos. said it has expanded its leasing team with the addition of Giancarlo “GC” Carriero, who joins the firm as leasing manager.

Carriero is responsible for developing and leveraging relationships with potential tenants and facilitating leasing solutions for Cypress’ nationwide retail and mixed-use projects. 

He was previously leasing representative for General Growth Properties.
 

Irvine, Calif. -- Steadfast Cos. said Wednesday that financial services industry veterans Greg Brakovich and Jamie Shepherdson have joined forces with the company to provide advisory services and to facilitate the strategic expansion of the sales and the distribution effort for the company’s privately placed and publicly registered investment products.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse announced Wednesday that Douglas S. Ewert has officially succeeded founder George Zimmer as the company’s president and CEO.

The announcement was made at the retailer’s Annual Shareholder Meeting. As previously announced, Zimmer will continue as executive chairman of the board of directors.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands, parent to the Payless ShoeSource and StrideRite brands, announced Wednesday that its chairman and CEO Matthew E. Rubel has resigned, effective immediately.

Rubel said in a release that he is leaving to pursue “a new chapter” in his career, and the company has offered no additional explanation.

Collective Brands said it is searching for a permanent replacement.