Corporate Governance

Matthews, N.C. - Family Dollar Stores Inc. has named Brian D. Hancock to the position of senior VP supply chain. Hancock will report to Howard R. Levine, chairman and CEO.

Severe winter weather has adversely affected many retailers in the fourth quarter, but not Burlington Stores, which saw comparable store sales increase 4% and net sales increase 1.3% to $1.3 billion for the period ended Feb. 1.

London – British fashion retailer Arcadia Group, whose banners include Topshop and Topman, has chosen Oracle Retail Merchandising Operations Management, Oracle Retail Merchandise Planning and Optimization, and Oracle Commerce applications to create a platform to help optimize retail operations and support its developing international business.

San Francisco – Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital Corp. disclosed in a regulatory filing that it has purchased a 9.5% ownership stake in Ann Inc., parent of Ann Taylor.  

In a letter to the Ann Inc. board of directors, Golden Gate said it looks forward to working collaboratively with Ann Inc. The company said that it did not plan to seek changes to the retailer’s board or executive team, or to push for a sale

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has launched a new dedicated Simon Venture Group, a business that will invest in retail innovation, with a focus on opportunities that enhance the shopping experience.

Mikael Thygesen, chief marketing officer of Simon Property Group said: "We believe we have only scratched the surface on applying technology to the retail environment in innovative, interesting ways."

Tiffany & Co. reported a net loss of $104 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 thanks to a $473 million charge resulting from arbitration with The Swatch Group Dec. 2013.

The company reported net sales for the quarter of $1.3 billion, up 5% from $1.23 billion last year. Same-store sales for the quarter increased 6%.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group is launching a new business, Simon Venture Group, that will invest in retail innovation, focusing on technology opportunities that enhance the shopping experience.

"We believe we have only scratched the surface on applying technology to the retail environment in innovative, interesting ways," said Mikael Thygesen, chief marketing officer of Simon Property Group.

Leading packaging provider Silgan Holdings named long-time KPMG executive Joseph Jordan to its board of directors.

Silgan isn’t a name familiar to the average consumer, even though its products come in contact with millions of people daily. As a leading supplier of rigid packaging for shelf stable foods and other consumer goods, Silgan operates 87 manufacturing plants worldwide and generates annual sales of $3.7 billion.