Labor & Employment

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS announced Tuesday that it has appointed Kent A. Kleeberger to the position of executive VP, COO. 

Kleeberger will replace Jeffrey A. Jones, who is retiring from the company effective March 7. Jones will serve as part-time consultant to the company during a transition period.

Kleeberger, 58, has served as executive VP-finance and CFO of Chico's FAS since joining the company in November 2007. Previously, he was senior VP and CFO for Dollar Tree Stores.

Indianapolis -- Electronics and appliances retailer Hhgregg said Friday it is planning to open as many as 20 new stores in the Chicago market this fall.

According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the openings would make the Chicago area the largest market for the chain, with 11% of its 174 stores.

Hhgregg is leasing former Circuit City, Linens ’n Things and Wickes Furniture sites, and plans to open a DC to support the Chicagoland expansion, it said.

CINCINNATI — Supermarket giant Kroger announced company EVP, Don Becker, died Wednesday after suffering an aneurysm. He was 62 years old.

Okay, stop snickering. Target this week revealed that the name of its new small format stores would be CityTarget. The company offered that nugget in connection with news that it would open a small-format store in downtown Chicago at the Sullivan Center development located in the heart of downtown at South State Street and Madison.

Enterprising television reporters at KGTV in San Diego caused Walmart some grief this week when they uncovered that prices were ringing up incorrectly on some items and customers were not being offered a $3 refund in keeping with a 2008 court order. To watch the video click here or continuing reading.

From a strictly legal standpoint Walmart may have prevailed this week in a case involving a customer who was murdered in its parking lot after a jury found the company wasn’t liable for inadequate security. Then again, the mere fact that Walmart had to appear in court to defend itself against charges stemming from a murder in its parking lot meant the company was a loser before the trial began simply because of the negative publicity.

MONTVALE, N.J. — Bankrupt grocer A&P, which just revealed plans to shutter 32 stores in six states, has bolstered its merchandising and marketing team with the appointment of six new executives.

A&P filed for bankruptcy in December 2010 and is in the midst of a turnaround aimed at reducing structural operating costs and enhancing value for shoppers. On Feb. 15, the company announced it is seeking court approval to close 32 stores by the end of the company's fiscal first quarter.

The new executives are:

New York City -- Target Corp. has updated its corporate donation policy following a corporate review that occurred in the wake of the backlash surrounding the company’s $150,000 donation last summer to a group that ran ads supporting Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, according to the Minneapolis/St.Paul Buisness Journal. The donation resulted in much controversy for the chain due to Emmer’s anti same-sex marriage stand.

New York City -- Foot Locker said Thursday it has named Allen I. Questrom, along with Guillermo Marmol, to its board of directors, bringing the total number of directors to 11.

Questrom, the former chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney Co., Barneys New York and Federated Dept. Stores, now Macy’s, is currently a senior advisor to Lee Equity Partners.

Marmol is president of Marmol & Associates, and has a long background in information technology and systems.

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. announced late Wednesday that executive VP Donald E. Becker died Wednesday after suffering an aneurysm. He was 62 years old.

Becker started with Kroger as a clerk in 1969 in the Cincinnati-Dayton area and worked his way up to hold several leadership positions. In 2004, he became executive VP, a role in which he led the company's merchandising and purchasing among other duties, the company said in a statement.