Strategy

JACKSON, Miss. — Cal-Maine Foods, the nation’s largest egg producer, has elevated two operations executives. Kevin Lastowski and Chris Myers have both been promoted to VP of operations.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced Wednesday that jewelry chain Signet Jewelers has teamed with IBM on a major e-commerce strategy and digital marketing redesign for Signet's national U.S. store chains, Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry.

The initiative has resulted in consistent sales growth, including a year-over-year increase of 49% in online sales as reported in the company's recently announced holiday sales for fiscal 2013.

Mason, Ohio -- Pearle Vision announced its 2013 U.S. expansion plans, which includes the re-licensing of 34 locations in 10 states.

With more than 520 eye care centers in the United States, Pearle Vision is now seeking to grow its national footprint and has identified Florida, Ohio, and Michigan as the first markets for its aggressive re-licensing effort. Specifically in Florida, Pearle Vision is looking to convert locations in Miami, West Palm Beach, Naples, Jacksonville, and Orlando.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Surveillance technology developer Universal Surveillance Systems has named Amanda Kirtlan, Robyn Broderick and Nicole Finley as national account managers.

Universal Surveillance Systems offers security solutions designed to deter theft, prevent loss and increase profitability, as well as customer support to Fortune 500 clients, worldwide leading retailers and local communities.

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties said Tuesday it plans to develop a full-service Walgreens drug store in Terrytown, La., on the Westbank of New Orleans.

The proposed Walgreens, which will be a relocation of an existing nearby store, will be located on the site of a former A&P Grocery/Eckerd Drug-anchored shopping center.  

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Former Microsoft executive James S. Pinckney has joined Coinstar as its new corporate leader of strategy and operations, a newly created position.

The move comes a week and a half after the provider of automated retail solutions named J. Scott Di Valerio as its new CEO.

Pinckney has more than 25 years of international general management, strategy and sales experience from Lenovo, Microsoft Corp., The Sabre Group and Hitachi Data Systems Corp.

Wayne, N.J. -- The Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund announced it has made a $1 million donation to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, created by New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie to aid, comfort and rebuild the Garden State in the wake of the devastation that impacted so many children and families.
 

New York -- Jerry McDougal, retail VP for Apple Inc., will be leaving the company, according to a Wednesday report by Bloomberg.

He will be replaced by Jim Bean, a VP in Apple’s finance division.

Company spokesman Steve Dowling told Bloomberg that Bean will be an apt replacement for McDougal, who served under former CEO Ron Johnson for many years.