Corporate Governance

Justice names Ann Taylor exec as president, CEO
Mahwah, N.J. - Brian Lynch, a 35-year fashion and retail industry veteran, has been named president and CEO of Ascena Retail Group’s Justice brand, which is targeted at tween girls. Lynch most recently served as president of Ann Taylor brand. Previously, he held executive positions with Ann Inc.; Gap Inc.; Learningsmit Inc.; and The Walt Disney Co.

Lynch replaces Michael Rayden, who retired in January. Rayden had announced his retirement in October, and Ascena subsequently launched a search for his replacement.
Aldi completed purchase of 66 Bottom Dollar stores from Delhaize
Batavia, Ill. – Aldi Inc. has completed its purchase of 66 Bottom Dollar Food stores from the Delhaize Group. The transaction includes the land, buildings and leasehold improvements associated with Delhaize's recently retired Bottom Dollar Food operation.

Report: Home Depot not in full security compliance during breach

Atlanta – The Home Depot Inc. was reportedly not in full compliance with data security standards when a major data breach began in April 2014. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, an investigator working for credit card companies said Home Depot was in compliance with data security standards in 2013, but was still working to obtain compliance certification when the 2014 attack occurred.
Report: RadioShack, creditors back Standard General bid

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack is reportedly asking a bankruptcy court to approve a roughly $160 million bod from Standard General LP that would keep 1,743 stores of the retailer’s roughly 4,000 stores open. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Standard General bid also the backing of the official committee of RadioShack’s unsecured creditors.
Super Stop & Shop puts Key Me kiosks in select stores

Quincy, Mass. - Ahold will install KeyMe retail key-making kiosks at select Super Stop & Shop locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. The kiosks enable customers to safely store a “digital copy” of their keys in the cloud and create a spare copy at their local Super Stop & Shop in less than 30 seconds.
ARTS adds to standard RFP library

Washington, D.C. - The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF), has announced two major additions to the ARTS Standard Request for Proposals (RFP) library on selecting payments solutions and video analytics solutions. These standardized RFPs will help retail companies research software applications ahead of time.
Kellogg CEO named to Macy’s board

Cincinnati – John A. Bryant, chairman, president and CEO of Kellogg Co., has been elected to the Macy’s Inc. board of directors. Bryant, 49, became chairman of the board of Kellogg Co. in July 2014 after serving since January 2011 as president and CEO.

He has been a member of Kellogg’s board of directors since 2010. Prior to becoming CEO, Bryant held a variety of key senior leadership roles, including chief financial officer, president of Kellogg North America, president of Kellogg International and COO.
Target to expand solar deployments to 180 stores and DCs

Middletown, Conn. -- Target Corp. is expanding its deployment of solar energy. The retailer has signed a power-purchase agreement with Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC that calls for supplier to install solar arrays on the roofs of 180 Target stores and distribution centers across the United States from Augusta, Maine, to San Diego.
ADA and e-commerce: What retailers should know

By Michael Wippler

We are or should be familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (“ADA”) requirements for accommodating the physically disabled. Wheelchair ramps, handicap stalls, handicap parking, lifts, and other items designed to assist the physically disabled are commonplace. However, the ADA is much broader than this, and the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the courts are focusing on making the internet more accessible for the visually impaired.
American Apparel’s Dov Charney seeks $40 million in damages as chain’s loss widens

New York -- There is no let up of bad news for American Apparel. The company’s founder and ousted CEO, Dov Charney, plans to file a lawsuit claiming $40 million in damages related to breaches of his employment contract.

The disclosure came on the heels of news that the Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Charney’s departure.
Finish Line Q4 profit falls; announces new buyback plan

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line Inc. on Friday reported a decline in its fourth-quarter profit and cautioned that profits in its current year may not hit expectations of a fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $40.8 million.

The retailer also authorized a new 5-million-share buyback program.

The Finish Line’s earnings in the fourth quarter fell 5% to $40.8 million.

Consolidated net sales for the quarter were $551.3 million, an increase of 6.3% over the prior year period. Same-store sales increased 2.6%.
Quiksilver CEO, CFO leave company

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Quiksilver announced that its CEO, Andy Mooney, has resigned. Mooney had been CEO for just over two years and was appointed chairman in November. The company’s CFO, Richard Shields, has also resigned. The news comes almost two weeks after the company reduced guidance for the current year and finished an investigation into its revenue-accounting practices.

Pierre Agnes, president of Quiksilver and a 27-year-company veteran, has been promoted to CEO and added to the board of directors.