Corporate Governance

Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, has appointed John Lewis as global president and Karen Fichuk as president, North America. Both executive leaders are based in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Kansas City, Kansas -- Designer outlet center Legends Outlets Kansas City announced that SweetFrog, a premium frozen yogurt chain based in Richmond, Virginia, has officially opened its first area location. The newest store is part of an expansion plan that adds to an existing 325-plus locations in the United States and abroad.

The Coca-Cola Company plans to acquire a 16.7% interest in Monster Beverage Corporation in an unconventional partnership arrangement involving brands, global distribution and $2.15 billion in cash.

The companies entered into a long-term strategic partnership designed to leverage their respective strengths — Coke’s worldwide bottling system and Monster’s expertise in the energy segment of the beverage category — to accelerate growth globally.

Retail organizations may not typically seek the services of a “marriage counselor,” but for retailers looking to implement innovative and disruptive technologies, global startup investor and accelerator Plug and Play Tech Center can help find the perfect partner.

“We’re a marriage counselor between retailers and startups,” confirmed Michael Olmstead, director, Plug and Play Retail. “We gain an in-depth understanding of retailers’ pain points.”

A brand known for its American craftsmanship has opened a flagship in the heart of the Ginza, one of the premier shopping districts in Tokyo.

The 2,000-sq.-ft. space marks the new face of Cole Haan for its retail stores as it expands. It blends tradition and modernity in a casually elegant environment, with distinct presentations for both female and male shoppers.   

Bentonville, Ark. -- A day after announcing a disappointing second quarter, Wal-Mart Stores has made an aggressive holiday promise to its customers: the world’s largest retailer says it will staff every cash register from the day after Thanksgiving through the days just before Christmas during peak shopping times.

Wal-Mart’s "checkout promise" is aimed at addressing lengthy waits in checkout lines.

Nike has appointed a new VP and GM of its stores and its women’s line. Heidi O’Neill will work with Nike stores, and Amy Montagne has been placed with NIKE Women’s.
 
“These two appointments demonstrate our commitment to investing in our retail experience and our women’s business – two of our most strategic growth opportunities,” Nike brand president Trevor Edwards said. “We’re delighted to elevate two seasoned Nike leaders in these important roles.”
 

Supervalu has suffered a data breach that may have resulted in theft of customer payment card data. The stolen information may include account numbers, and in some cases also the expiration date, other numerical information and/or the cardholder’s name.