Marketing

Real estate acquisition and management firm Jamestown has announced a comprehensive rebranding and revitalization program for its recently acquired property, Alameda Towne Centre, a 594,000-sq.-ft. open-air retail center on Alameda Island, Calif.

Washington, D.C. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced Thursday it has added two retail industry executives to its board of directors during its semi-annual meeting held this week in Washington, D.C.

Joining the board are Louis D’Ambrosio, president and CEO of Sears Holding Corp., and Joseph DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven.

New York City -- A report released Thursday by The Conference Board said that the rate of dismissal of CEOs in the S&P 500 due to disciplinary actions has increased in recent years, while 25% of boards of directors facing a chief executive succession have opted for an outside hire.

According to the 2011 CEO Succession Report, 51 CEOs in the S&P 500 left their post in 2010, making the rate of CEO succession approximately 10%, consistent with the average number of annual succession announcements from 2000 through 2009.

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. reported Thursday that it has shuffled responsibilities among two of its executive officers, effective immediately.

Patrick F. McGuiness, 45, has been appointed senior VP and CFO. He joined Tiffany in 1990 and has held a variety of management positions within the finance and merchandising divisions. He was promoted to senior VP finance in 2007, and the new appointment adds responsibility for the retailer’s investor relations program.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples has revealed plans to shrink its overall store footprint and grow its break rooms as a means to lower costs and increase sales productivity.

In a presentation to analysts at a Jefferies & Co. conference in New York City on Wednesday, Staples U.S. president Demos Pareros said new stores will be about 15,500 sq. ft. to 16,000 sq. ft., down from the current prototype of 18,000 sq. ft. and the 2000 prototype of 24,000 sq. ft.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has sent a letter supporting Section 18 of H.R. 1249, the America Invents Act from NRF SVP government relations David French to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, Ranking Member John Conyers, D-Mich., and other members of the committee. 

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets announced that it will make its Knoxville, Tenn. debut in in the Northshore Town Center at Northshore Drive and Pellissippi Pkwy.

“We are proud to offer our unique shopping experience to customers in Knoxville,” said Todd Jones, president of Publix Super Markets. “We are committed to providing premier customer service and look forward to supporting the Knoxville community as early as third quarter 2012.”

SALT LAKE CITY — O.co, formerly Overstock.com, announced that its CEO, Dr. Patrick Byrne, was named executive of the year at the 2011 American Business Awards. O.co was also named best overall company (up to 2,500 employees).

"This is a great achievement for O.co," Byrne said. "I thank and applaud all my colleagues on this great achievement."

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Hennes & Mauritz AB reported Wednesday that net income for its 2Q dropped 18% to $673 million, from $817 million in the year-ago period.

The Swedish fashion retailer blamed higher procurement costs and promotional offers for the lagging performance.

Sales edged up to $5.1 billion from $4.96 billion in the prior year quarter, but gross margin shrank to 61.7% from a previous 65.9%.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  — Nashville Apparel Company announced that it is re-introducing its Duck Head brand to the retail market in time for the back-to-school season.

Originally founded in 1865 by Nashville-based O'Brien Brothers, Duck Head was popular in the 1980s and 90s.