Marketing

MINNEAPOLIS — Best Buy’s announcement on Tuesday morning that its CEO Brian Dunn had resigned the company by mutual agreement has been updated with information that a review is being conducted concerning the former chief executive’s personal conduct.

Best Buy initially said that there were no disagreements or specific problems related to the retailer’s operations, financial controls or procedures. But later in the day on Tuesday it said the company was conducting an internal investigation into his “personal conduct.”

PLANO, Texas — Personnel changes are quite common these days at JCPenney, the latest involving CFO Michael Dastugue,  who is leaving the company effective April 13. The company has named COO Michael Kramer as interim CFO while a search for a new CFO is conducted.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Michael Brown, EVP and CIO of Lowe's is retiring after nearly 28 years with the company and has announced plans to accept the company’s voluntary separation program.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Payless ShoeSource, a business unit of Collective Brands, has named Michele Bergerac SVP and general merchandise manager for Payless' women's and accessories businesses, reporting to LuAnn Via, president and CEO for Payless.

Bergerac will oversee product creation and merchandising for the Women's footwear and accessory collections, covering a range of categories including dress, sandals, casuals and boots for women, as well as accessories including handbags, socks and hosiery, scarves, jewelry and beauty and body products.  

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group announced that Joshua Schulman has been appointed president of Bergdorf Goodman, effective May 7.

Schulman, 40, joins Neiman Marcus from Jimmy Choo where he was CEO. In this role, he oversaw the international expansion of the brand and the growth of jimmychoo.com. Prior to Jimmy Choo, Schulman was president, Kenneth Cole New York, and managing director, international strategic alliances, Gap, Inc.

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. on Wednesday said that CFO Michael Dastugue will depart the company, effective April 13. Dastugue, 47, has been at J.C. Penney since 1991. He was named CFO in January 2011. His departure is the latest shake-up in management as new CEO Ron Johnson works to transform the chain.

Mike Kramer, COO, will assume the CFO duties on an interim basis while a search for a replacement is conducted. Kramer joined J.C. Penney in December, shortly after his former boss at Apple Inc., Ron Johnson, became J.C. Penney's CEO.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced six SolarCity projects on stores in Colorado, marking the company's 100th solar power installation in the United States and moving it closer to its long-term goal of using 100% renewable energy for all its retail and distribution facilities.

New York -- Private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners has acquired an 80% ownership stake in the 25-store natural food chain Earth Fare. The deal values the company at $300 million.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods announced the promotions of two members on the company’s executive team.

Charles Castaneda has been promoted to executive VP -- planning, allocation, replenishment and e-ccommerce merchandising. Castaneda joined Modell’s in December of 2010 as senior VP – planning, allocation and replenishment.

Todd Smyth has been promoted to VP/GMM of the licensed product division. He has been with Modell’s for the past 12 years.
 

Indianapolis -- Specialty retailer and team dealer Lids Sports Group said Wednesday it has teamed with Internet sports media destination Bleacher Report to launch a Bleacher Report Store site in connection with BleacherReport.com.