Labor & Employment

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney has been named the No. 1 retailer on Diversity's annual ranking of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity," which recognizes leading organizations for best practices in diversity management.

It is the second consecutive year that the company has earned its place on the list, moving up 11 spots to No. 35 overall.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Tb!s the bargain shop, a leading Canadian discount store chain, announced that Beryl “Jack” Buley has been appointed president and CEO, effective immediately. Tb!s operates 238 stores in Canada.

Buley’s promotion is designed to position Tb!s to continue to expand its retail footprint and gain share in the Canadian market. Former president and CEO, Michael Roellinghoff, will assume the role of vice chairman of the board.

Boston -- The Wilder Cos. announced several new hires, including Howard A. West II, who joins the company as asset manager to assist in monitoring various properties’ financial and operating performance, act as a liaison to ownership groups on management and reporting issues, provide assistance on property acquisitions, and oversee daily operations for various shopping centers throughout the portfolio. 

Olympia Sports announced that, effective Sept. 1, Dick Coffey, president, will be retiring.  Coffey has served Olympia Sports for more than 35 years, and for the last 12 years he has served as president. He will continue to be involved after his retirement as a member of the company’s board of directors and will consult on new store growth.

The company has named Ed Manganello, general merchandise manager, as our new president effective Sept. 1.  Manganello started his career with Olympia in 1992.

Sharp Electronics Corp. has announced that Mark Viken has been named VP, marketing. He will report to John Herrington, president, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America.

In this position, Viken will oversee U.S. marketing of all Sharp consumer electronics products including appliances and health and environment-related products, as well as audio and video categories.

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- TB!S The Bargain Shop, a leading Canadian discount store chain, announced that Beryl Buley has been appointed president and CEO, effective immediately. Former president and CEO, Michael Roellinghoff, will assume the role of vice chairman of the board.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic announced Monday that CEO Betsy McLaughlin has resigned the company, effectively immediately, and will be replaced by current board member Lisa Harper.

The move came two weeks after the company announced a fourth-quarter net loss, reversing a profit from a year ago, as revenue slipped by 1%.

According to the retailer, McLaughlin will continue to assist in the transition over the next three months.

Johannesburg, South Africa -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that hearings on a Wal-Mart Stores bid to acquire control of Massmart Holdings Ltd. will be adjourned to May 9, following an earlier announcement on Tuesday that the hearings would proceed this week.

After announcing that it will hear evidence from labor unions and Wal-Mart and Massmart this week and from the government on May 9 and May 10, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal now say the hearing has been adjourned to May 9.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal announced Monday that it has hired Ken Seipel as president and COO, effective March 28.

Seipel will report to CEO Susan P. McGalla.

Seipel was previously president and chief merchandise/marketing officer of Pamida Discount Stores LLC, a regional general merchandise discount retailer. Prior to that, he was executive VP of stores, operations and store design for the Old Navy division of Gap.

Toronto -- Canadian discounter The Bargain Shops said Tuesday it has hired Beryl Jack Buley, former division president of Dollar General Corp., as its CEO.

The retailer said it is prepping for Target Corp.’s takeover of former Zellers stores across Canada in two years, which could shift some of Bargain Shop customers over to Target.

According to an Associated Press report, however, Buley said he is not worried about the impending competition from Target, saying that “enormous opportunity” remains in Canada.