Mergers & Acquisitions

Branded packaged food supplier B&G Foods elevated EVP and CFO Robert Cantwell to the role of CEO effective Jan. 1.

Cantwell, 57, a long time B&G employee, succeeds David Wenner, 64, in the top job following Wenner’s decision earlier this year to retire. Wenner will remain on the board and the company has begun a search for a new CFO.

Dublin, Calif. –- Ross Stores opened 20 new Ross Dress for Less and eight new DD’s Discounts stores across 14 different states in September and October.     These new locations are part of the off-price retailer’s plans to add a total of approximately 75 Ross and 20 DD’s Discounts stores during 2014.  

Enabled commerce volume at eBay surged 27% in the company’s third quarter with cross border trade showing particular strength, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the company from revising downward its full year outlook.

Charlotte, N.C. –- Bank of America has reportedly released a report saying that Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is the leader in global e-commerce, followed by Amazon.com.    According to Benzinga.com, Alibaba currently holds 31% of global e-commerce market share and should grow to capture 33% of global e-commerce market share in 2015.    

Canton, Mass. –- Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open 40 new restaurants in Michigan during the next several years, in addition to more than 60 currently operating in the state. The retailer continues to recruit franchise candidates there with an emphasis on Flint, Lansing and Traverse City.    

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holdings Corp. has named Ronald D. Boire, executive VP/chief merchandising officer of Sears Full Line Stores and Kmart Format, as acting president and CEO of Sears Canada. Boire will leave his role with Sears Holdings and replaces former Sears Canada CEO Douglas Campbell, who the company previously said would leave his post by the end of 2014.  

Hamilton, Bermuda –- In a surprise announcement, Signet Jewelers Ltd., the largest jewelry retailer in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, said that its president and COO, Mark Light,  will take over as CEO on Nov. 1. He will replace Signet’s current chief, Michael Barnes, who is resigning from his position and from Signet's board of directors to "pursue opportunities closer to his home in Dallas," effective Oct. 31.  

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Quiksilver announced that Bob McKnight will retire as a senior executive of the company on Oct. 31, 2014. He will remain a director. The teen retailer also said CEO Andy Mooney has been elected chairman and Pierre Agnes has been promoted to president of Quiksilver, effective Nov. 1, 2014.