Strategy

Atlanta -- Atlanta based retail design agency, Miller Zell, has expanded its design team and appointed Tom Ertler as as senior VP/design director leading environmental design initiatives. He joins the company from his most recent role as a founding partner with Authentic Retail Group, Pasadena, Calif., an integrated brand development firm. Prior to that, he was creative director at Envision, the full-service environmental design studio of Palladeo.

New York -- Consumer confidence increased in January for the second consecutive month, rising to 80.7 from 77.5 in December, according to The Conference Board. Economists had expected a smaller increase, to 79. It was the second consecutive increase.

New Albany, Ohio - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is separating its chairman and CEO roles and expanding its board's size to 12 members. The teen retailer is also terminating its shareholder rights plan.

Brookshire Grocery plans to reduce shrink and improve in-store operations with Retail 20/20 reporting, a cloud-based exception reporting solution by Agilence.

"We needed a powerful reporting application to get the most out of our data and a team to help us drive it," stated John D'Anna, CIO for Brookshire Grocery. "After a six-month pilot, it was clear that Retail 20/20 was able to deliver a significant return on our investment."

Dublin, Calif. – Ross Stores, Inc. has promoted Michael Hartshorn, 46 is being promoted to CFO, retaining his senior VP title, effective Feb. 2, 2014. Hartshorn will be responsible for the accounting, treasury, financial planning, tax, risk management and investor relations functions.

Jo-Ann has promoted Riddianne Kline to EVP, marketing and merchandising, and Tom Williams to EVP, operations and human resources. James Kerr, EVP, CFO, completes the executive leadership team reporting to CEO and president Travis Smith.

Philadelphia – Aramark has unveiled plans for Denali Park Village, a new lodging experience in Anchorage, Alaska, that will include an open market. The company is transforming and re-branding two adjacent properties it owns, McKinley Village Lodge and Denali River Cabins & Cedar Lodge, with a projected May 2014 opening.

Orlando, Fla. — Ruth’s Chris Steak House has opened a new location in Denver — in the historic Denver Dry Goods Building. The contemporary space spans nearly 10,000 sq. ft. and boasts a grand lounge, three private event rooms, a dining room and a state-of-the-art kitchen anchored by Ruth’s Chris’ signature and proprietary 1,800-degree broiler.

Ruth’s Chris is the largest upscale steak house company in the world, with nearly 140 restaurant locations around the globe.