Corporate Governance

Dallas -- Fast-casual restaurant chain Corner Bakery Café announced two multi-unit development agreements with California-based businessman Anil Yadav, CEO of JIB Management, who plans to open 16 cafes in Seattle, and seven in Las Vegas, over the next seven years.
 

The Woodlands, Texas -- Conn’s, a specialty retailer of home appliances, furniture, mattresses, consumer electronics, announced the opening of its first two Conn’s HomePlus stores in Tennessee.

The HomePlus store format showcases furniture and mattresses in addition to the leading brands and the latest technologies in consumer electronics and home appliances. The stores are at Cross Creek, in Memphis, and at Town & Country Commons, in Knoxville.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods on Tuesday announced grand openings for three new stores.

The company will hold opening celebrations June 6 through June 8 for the following locations: Lawrence, Kansas; Culpepper, Virginia; Arden, North Carolina.

With the openings, Dick’s will operate 570 stores nationwide.

New York -- Intuit has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Check, a mobile bill pay company with some 10 million registered users. The acquisition will help accelerate Intuit’s ability to offer bill pay across small business and personal finance products and create opportunities to retain, attract and serve additional customers.

Every year, one of my personal highlights is the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) RECon convention in Las Vegas. It’s a chance both to connect with the fascinating leaders in our field, as well as to see a few steps into the future. RECon bills itself at the “global convention for the shopping center industry,” and that label is an accurate one: Over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 32,000 attendees make RECon the largest convention in the industry.

New York - Aeropostale Inc. has entered into definitive agreements with respect to its previously announced strategic partnership and $150 million senior secured credit facilities with Sycamore Partners. As previously announced on March 13, 2014, the senior secured credit facilities with affiliates of Sycamore Partners consist of a five-year $100 million term loan facility and a ten-year $50 million term loan facility that includes a sourcing arrangement with MGF Sourcing, also an affiliate of Sycamore Partners.

Omaha, Neb. - Omaha Steaks today announced the launch of a newly created customer loyalty program, Omaha Steaks Steaklover Rewards. This new loyalty program is designed to reward customers through a points-based program, where they can earn points by purchasing products, in addition to non-transactional engagements like referrals and social sharing.

Tyson’s Corner, Va. - Logan's Roadhouse has selected MicroStrategy's Alert Platform as the foundation for a new customer-focused mobile app. Through its new app, Logan's intends to provide a complete brand experience to mobile consumers.

Using mobile conveniences and marketing features available in the Alert platform, Logan's expects to generate more repeat business, amplify its social presence, and deliver enhanced loyalty services.

Framingham, Mass. – Staples has named a veteran marketing executive, Frank Bifulco, as executive VP marketing, effective June 23. Bifulco previously served as chief marketing officer at Home Depot.

In the newly created role, Bifulco will lead marketing across Staples. He will report to Ron Sargent, chairman and CEO, and will be a member of the company’s executive committee.

Every May, the MIT Sloan School of Management hosts a one-day CIO Symposium where great academic minds mix with great business minds. The result is always an outpouring of IT and business thought leadership, and this year was no exception. A panel of CIOs, including Adriana Karaboutis of Dell and Roger Gurnani of Verizon, discussed what leading the digital enterprise means for today’s top IT executives, and why taking a leading digital enterprise role is so critical. Following are a few insights gleaned from the session: