Corporate Governance

Rite Aid has appointed David Abelman a SVP of brand development and innovation. He will report to Ken Martindale, Rite Aid’s president and chief operating officer.

Abelman will be responsible for overseeing the continued development of Rite Aid brand products as well as identifying and implementing new innovations to enhance and grow Rite Aid’s business.

A new ad campaign from Kohl’s featuring several feel-good family spots positions the retailer as a destination where shoppers can find their “Yes.”

Wilson plans to introduce a sensor equipped basketball that can discern between made and missed shots and then feed information to a smartphone or tablet.

Due for release later this year, the new product is the result of a partnership with SportIQ, a Finland-based company focused on artificial intelligence, and Wilson’s recently established digital division.

Maybelline New York has chosen model Marloes Horst to be the new face of the brand. Horst joins a roster of spokeswomen, including Christy Turlington and Emily DiDonato.

"Marloes embodies the Maybelline New York woman with her passion for makeup and her New York City energy and ambition," says Jerome Bruhat, global brand president of Maybelline New York.

SPAR Group, a leading supplier of retail merchandising and other marketing services throughout the United States and internationally, has appointed Panos Mastrogiannis as chief information officer and executive officer.

The company also provided shareholders with an update on its technological advances.

Marshalls wanted to see how confident women are and asked 1,000 women if they have ever held themselves back due to a lack of confidence.

The retailer found that three out of four women (75%) have said no to an activity or opportunity due to lack of confidence. Marshalls enlisted the help of celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart and body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass to provide confidence boosting tips to help women say yes more often “in fashion and in life.”

Former Dell and Best Buy executive William Hutchinson is joining Sears Holdings at SVP and president of supply chain.

Hutchinson spent seven years with Dell and most recently served as vp of global fulfillment and logistics for the Round Rock, Texas-based company. In his new role Hutchinson will be accountable for all aspects of the company's supply chain, including distribution, transportation, customs compliance and global sourcing. He is filling a role previously held by Raj Penkar, who will retire from the company on May 31.

Meijer has selected U.S. Vision as its exclusive vision center in its stores moving forward in an effort to enhance its retail healthcare services across the Midwest.

U.S. Vision, a separately owned and operated company based in Glendora, N.J., is currently a tenant in 50 Meijer stores in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, and has plans to open 19 more vision centers in Meijer stores this year. All of its vision centers will be renamed "Meijer Optical" by the end of the month.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Specialty retailer Brookstone Holdings Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with a plan to sell itself to Spencer Spirit Holdings, owner of the Spencer’s retail chain, for about $147 million. The purchase price comprises $120 million in cash, $7.5 million in new notes and about $18.5 million of assumed liabilities.

Under the agreement with Spencer Spirit, Brookstone would continue to operate its stores in malls and airports, along with its catalog, website and wholesale business, under the Brookstone brand.

Toronto -- Hudson’s Bay Company’s net profit for the fourth quarter fell to $29.1 million from $86.8 million in the year ago period, amid higher expenses.

The company’s sales for the quarter, ended Feb.1, rose 74% to $2.41 billion, largely driven by the inclusion of Saks, which it acquired in November 2013. Same-store sales rose 6.6%, with an increase of 5.2% at its namesake stores, a 3.1% increase at Saks, and a decline of 1.3% at Lord & Taylor.