Strategy

NEW YORK — Kohl's is the recipient of the People’s Pick award in The Harris Poll Customer Relationship Series, conducted by Harris Interactive. The award cognizes the strength of consumers' bonds with mid-tier department stores and reflects the customers' connections and future intentions.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples said Thursday it has appointed Kirk Saville as VP global communications, charged with overseeing Staples’ internal and corporate communications, marketing, public relations, community relations and corporate events.

Saville, who joins Staples from The Hershey Co. where he was VP corporate communications, will report to Steve Fund, Staples senior VP global marketing.
 

New York City -- In  response to Columbia Sportswear Co.’s desire to reduce its PCI scope for its retail locations by minimizing or eliminating the need to store any payment data on its network environment, payment processing and security vendors, Equinox Payments Voltage Security, and Merchant Link have collaborated to create a reliable, cloud-based payment solution to protect sensitive point-of-sale payment data.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Buyout firm The Blackstone Group and real estate investment trust DDR Corp. will buy 46 shopping centers owned by EPN Group for $1.43 billion, which includes the assumption of at least $945 million in debt.

Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII, an affiliate of Blackstone, will own 95% of the joint venture. DDR will own 5% and invest $150 million in preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate of 10%.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced that Kirt Johnson will join the association as VP tax policy. 

An expert with nearly 30 years of experience navigating tax policy on Capitol Hill and in the private sector, Johnson will lead RILA’s tax agenda, including the pursuit of comprehensive tax reform. Johnson will also provide support to RILA’s aggressive campaign to level the playing field in terms of sales tax collection between Main Street retailers and their online competitors. 

New York City -- David Yurman on Wednesday announced that Glen T. Senk will join the fine-jewelry company as CEO, effective Feb. 27. Senk, who on Tuesday announced he was stepping down as CEO of Urban Outfitters, will take an ownership stake in the privately owned company.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens’ chairman Alan G. McNally, president and CEO Gregory D. Wasson and executive VP and CFO Wade D. Miquelon on Wednesday outlined the company’s strategies for growth and value creation for shareholders at the chain’s annual shareholders meeting.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has issued an open letter to President Obama urging him to call for action on initiatives that support a strong retail sector when he delivers his State of the Union address later this month. The letter was signed by Macy’s chairman, president and CEO Terry Lundgren, who chairs the NRF doard of directors, and NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.