Corporate Governance

CHICAGO — The Network of Executive Women has unveiled its "2012 Annual Report," which features the personal stories of 10 network members, who explain how their engagement with NEW changed their companies, careers and lives.

Among those featured are Kim Tisdale, manager of expense payables at Wal-Mart Stores, and Chris Albi, VP merchandising at Kroger.

Additional highlights within the report include:

PARIS — Beauty brand Coty has announced the renewal of the partnership agreement for the Pristine Seas program between the National Geographic Society and Davidoff Cool Water.

 "This relationship with National Geographic is a cornerstone for Davidoff Cool Water. The link we have created with the ocean has grown stronger, and we feel it is essential to keep working on this partnership," stated Jean Mortier, president of Coty Prestige.

Fourth quarter same store sales increased 3% at Dollar General as the company capped of another record year and indicated it would open 635 stores this year.

Total sales for the company’s 13 week fourth quarter ended February 1, increased 0.5%, to $4.21 billion compared to $4.19 billion during the 14 week fourth quarter the prior year. Excluding the extra week from the prior year’s fourth quarter, sales would have increased 8%. The company said its same store sales increase was driven by consumables and a mix of increased transaction size and customer traffic.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores has named Scott Zucker to the newly created position of SVP merchandise operations. Zucker will be responsible for driving the strategy and execution of merchandise initiatives, category management, merchandise planning and replenishment. In his new role, he will report to Michael Bloom, president and COO.

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble announced that it will soon offer in-app purchaising via its Nook products through a partnership with industry-leading mobile payment provider Fortumo. App and game developers will be able to sell premium digital content in their products seamlessly and safely to millions of Nook customers through the Nook store (www.nook.com). 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it will once again double match every customer's $10 Simply Give donation made April 12 to 13 to help restock the shelves of local food pantries that were depleted over the holidays.

Digital coupon site, Coupons.com, has announced the public beta launch of KitchMe, a next-generation meal planning and savings web application. Free to use, the application is available at www.kitchme.com and can be used with desktop and mobile browsers. Coupons.com also announced the acquisition of KitchMe, the San Francisco-based startup that designed the application. Both co-founders of KitchMe, Stella Kleiman and Gene Reddick, have joined the Coupons.com team.

MINNEAPOLIS — Best Buy founder, Richard Schulze, is returning to Best Buy as its chairman Emeritus. In addition, Schulze has nominated Brad Anderson and Al Lenzmeier to serve on the Best Buy Board of Directors, pursuant to a previously disclosed agreement between the company and Schulze.

Schulze had resigned from the company last June over the scandal involving from CEO Brian Dunn. He then made several failed attempts to take Best Buy private.

Schulze expressed support for Best Buy's current chief, Hubert Joly.

SOUTHPORT, Conn. — Sturm, Ruger & Company, a firearms manufacturer, announced that the company has been named Vendor of the Year by Cabela’s.

BOSTON — Wayfair.com, an online retailer of home products and furnishings, announced five executive leadership promotions Monday.

Ed Macri was named SVP business intelligence and marketing, and John Mulliken was named SVP strategic initiatives. Additional executive promotions include Dave Raymond to VP operations process improvement, Laura Scott to VP supplier operations and Jeff Steeves to VP arketing.