Corporate Governance

Foothill Ranch, Calif. - Christine Lee has been appointed executive VP and chief merchandising officer, starting on Sept. 3. Lee served as senior VP/general merchandise manager, women’s apparel, accessories and design at Pacific Sunwear of California Inc since 2010.

Prior to Pacific Sunwear, Lee spent 18 years with Urban Outfitters Inc. Brieane Breuer, who joined PacSun in 2007 and is the company's current VP of women's design, will replace Lee on an interim basis.

Sunbury, Pa. – Net income at Weis Markets Inc. plummeted close to 47% during the second quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to the prior year period. Weis reported net income of $12.8 million, compared to $21.18 million a year earlier.

Weis cited company reinvestment and price discounting as driving the net income decline. Second quarter sales increased 4.5% to $691.9 million, from $662.1 million and same-store sales increased 2.9%.

Tewksbury, Mass. – The Attorney General’s offices of Massachusetts and New Hampshire have warned the Market Basket supermarket chain that it must follow the letter of the law in terminating any employees involved in walkouts and demonstrations that have been occurring since July 18. According to the Boston Globe, a joint letter to Market Basket co-CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch from the two offices states that they are aware Market Basket may start replacing workers on Aug. 4.

San Jose, Calif. – EBay Inc. has released its 2014 diversity report. The online auction retailer, whose global workforce is 58% male and global workforce is 61% white, says it has made improvements in workforce diversity but still has progress to make.

EBay’s global leadership is 72%, while its global technology wotkforce is 76% male. The non-tech workforce is much more gender-diverse, with a slight 51% male majority.

Redwood Shores, Calif. – Specialty supplements retailer PureFormulas recently migrated to Oracle Commerce to personalize the customer experience and open up new market segments without sacrificing ease of use.

The Woodlands, Texas - Conn’s, Inc. has named William E. Saunders Jr. to its board of directors, Saunders will also become a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Saunders has served as CEO of Community Choice Financial since June 2008, after joining the company as its CFO in March 2006. In May 2014, he was appointed as chairman of the board.

Irvine, Calif. -- Whole Foods Market and the Irvine Company announced that the companies have signed a lease to bring the first Whole Foods Market to Irvine, California.

The organic and natural grocer will occupy approximately 40,000 sq. ft. at Los Olivos Marketplace, a specialty shopping center just off the 405 freeway at Irvine Center Drive in Irvine Spectrum.