Strategy

Toronto – The board of directors of Sears Canada Inc. has named Ronald D. Boire as president and CEO. Boire has served as the company's acting president and CEO since Oct. 15, 2014.

Prior to his role with Sears Canada, Boire was executive VP, chief merchandising officer and president, Sears and Kmart Formats, Sears Holdings Corp. Prior to joining Sears Holdings in January 2012, Boire was president and CEO at Brookstone, a position he held from October 2009.

Alexandria, Va. - The U.S. convenience store count increased to 152,794 stores as of Dec. 31, 2014. That marks a nearly 1% increase from the prior year, according to the 2015 NACS/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count.

Things didn’t work for Target in Canada, but that hasn’t deterred Japan’s Fast Retailing Co., from announcing plans to enter the market with its UNIQLO format.

The company’s first stores aren’t expected to open until the fall of 2016 when two flagship locations offering budget priced apparel measuring 24,000 and 28,000 square feet are introduced in Toronto.

Ron Boire was named president and CEO of Sears Canada after serving in that capacity on an interim basis since last October.

Boire was named acting president and CEO last October to replace Doug Campbell, the former head of the 381 unit Sears Canada operation who resigned for personal reasons. Boire was identified as the top candidate for the job at the time the appointment was made as he had spent nearly two years as executive vice president, chief merchandising officer and president of Sears and Kmart formats.

Former Pep Boys and Bass Pro Shops marketing executive Ron Stoupa has joined the Sports Authority as executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Stoupa will be responsible for leading the strategic development and oversight of the company’s marketing plans. The Englewood, Co.-based company operates 466 locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

New York -- Ron Stoupa, a former Pep Boys and Bass Pro Shops marketing executive, has been appointed executive VP and chief marketing officer of, Sports Authority.

Stoupa will be responsible for leading the strategic development and oversight of the company’s marketing plans. The Englewood, Colorado-based company operates 466 locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has appointed George Fairweather, formerly group finance director of Alliance Boots, as executive vice president and global chief financial officer, effective Feb. 20.

Fairweather will succeed Timothy McLevish, who served as Walgreens CFO since August 2014, where he advanced the company’s completion of its merger with Alliance Boots to form Walgreens Boots Alliance and served as the initial global chief financial officer of the combined companies.

With the Internet of Things (“IoT”) comes yet another technology-driven advancement that challenges businesses with promising opportunities and potentially vexing responsibilities. In particular, manufacturers and retailers who plan to sell (or are already selling) IoT devices increasingly face consumer questions about data security and privacy.