Corporate Governance

Walmart has made some big changes in its executive ranks, bringing together management of its Web and retail teams.     The changes, which the chain has not officially announced, come on the heels of media reports that Karenann Terrell would step down as CIO of Wal-Mart Stores on Feb. 24. As reported by CNBC.com, Walmart’s executive realignment includes the following:  

Consumer electronics and furniture retailer Conn’s has named a COO, along with heads for logistics and service. The retailer named Coleman R. (“CR”) Gaines as president and COO, effective February 1, 2017. Gaines previously spent seven years at TMX Finance in Savannah, Georgia, a consumer retail finance company, where he was most recently the company’s executive VP of store operations.

Lowe’s Cos. is shifting to a new staffing model for its stores that will result in the loss of some jobs nationwide.   The new model will be rolled out across Lowe’s stores and is designed to free up resources to boost customer service, CNBC reported.     

Wawa has big plans for the Sunshine State.    The privately-owned, Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain plans to open 25 to 30 stores every year throughout Florida during the next several years.   In 2017, Wawa will start its push into the southeast part of the state, with a first wave of stores opening in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.  

PGA Tour Superstore is celebrating the opening of its 28th U.S. store.   The privately held retailer has opened a store in Glendale, Arizona, its fifth location in the western state. Two more locations are in the works for 2017, with one in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and another in Jacksonville, Florida.  

Consumer electronics and furniture retailer Conn’s has named a COO, along with heads for logistics and service.   The retailer named Coleman R. (“CR”) Gaines as president and COO, effective February 1, 2017.   Gaines previously spent seven years at TMX Finance in Savannah, Georgia, a consumer retail finance company, where he was most recently the company’s executive VP of store operations.     

An international study conducted by Capgemini found 80% of retail executives believing in the sanctity of the physical store. Only 45% of shoppers, however, felt the same way.   The consulting company’s Digital Transformation Institute surveyed 6,000 consumers and 500 retailers in the U.S., China, and seven European nations and found a consumer base much more taken up with technology and online shopping than leading merchants were.  

Ahold USA can now boost it has “smarter stores” for its increasingly connected consumers.   The supermarket giant has rolled out a new wireless platform from Verizon Enterprise Solutions across its divisions, which include Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover, and Giant Carlisle, The platform has resulted in a digitally rich in-store experience for the grocer’s smartphone-using shoppers.