Strategy

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. has promoted John Paul (J.P.) Guzzardo to the position of VP development, charging him with leading the Build to Suit department focused on ground-up development projects in the U.S.

Previously, Guzzardo held positions as real estate manager and director of real estate for Sembler.

European apparel retailer H&M and Inditex, parent company of fashion retailer Zara, are signing on to the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement, an independent, legally-binding agreement to guarantee safe working conditions in the Bangladeshi garment industry. 

H&M is a top purchaser of garments from Bangladesh, and hopes that the agreement leads to “far-reaching improvements in working conditions.” 

Boston -- A landmark project in Boston’s Downtown Crossing has launched leasing. Millennium Partners has appointed Cushman & Wakefield as the exclusive retail leasing agent for its Millennium Tower/Burnham Building project, which is the site of the former Filene’s Department Store and consists of the landmark 1912 Burnham Building and a contemporary, mixed-use tower that will rise 625 ft. into the Boston skyline.  

WESTPORT, Conn. — TCC, a global leader in retail marketing programs, has appointed former PepsiCo executive Van B. Sapp as president of TCC Americas. In his new role, Sapp will be responsible for TCC's operations in North and South America, adding capabilities with licensed properties and integrating digital components to current customer initiatives.  

Brisbane, Calif. -- Veteran entrepreneur and executive Narry Singh has been named to the board of directors of Bebe Stores.

Singh, who holds more than 20 years of business experience with a focus on digital entertainment, new media, software and e-commerce, was most recently chief executive of mobile entertainment provider Outfit7.
 

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Home furnishing retailer West Elm, owned by Williams-Sonoma, will open a store in King of Prussia, Pa., on May 16.

The 8,406.-sq.-ft. store will be the second West Elm store in Pennsylvania, following the Philadelphia store.

Cleveland -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has named Craig M. Fuller director of the firm’s National Retail Group and Net Leased Properties Group in Cleveland.

Fuller joined Marcus & Millichap in June 2008. He specializes in the sale of both multi-tenant and single-tenant net-leased retail investment properties throughout the Midwest with a special focus on Ohio and Pennsylvania.

LOS ANGELES — Specialty sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet is looking to public relations boutique agency Formula PR to help establish its brand as a leader within the active lifestyle industry. 

The multi-faceted program will focus on elevating visibility around Sport Chalet’s in-house health and fitness experts, heightening regional awareness through interactive events and custom programs, in addition to connecting with consumers, and positioning the brand as the go-to resource for education, training and gear in the vast sports arena.