Corporate Governance

Rite Aid on Thursday announced the appointment of Yong Choe as VP federal affairs and public policy.

Choe previously served as director of business outreach and member services for the Republican Study Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, and worked in various roles in the government affairs division of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores between 2003 and 2010. In his new position, he will report to EVP pharmacy Robert Thompson.

NEW YORK — Iconix Brand Group has gained a controlling stake of the apparel brand, Buffalo David Bitton from Buffalo International.

Iconix now owns 51% of the brand and as part of the deal, formed a new joint venture company with Buffalo International. Iconix will control this joint venture and consolidate its results.  Buffalo International will be the core licensee for the new joint venture.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has named Sam Duncan president and CEO.

NEW YORK — The Jones Group Inc. has appointed Joseph Stafiniak to the newly created position of SVP merchandising of Nine West, effective immediately. In this role, Stafiniak will operate as the lead merchant for Nine West overseeing merchandising strategies and the execution of product to meet the expanding needs of the brand's global business. He will report to Kathy Nedorostek, group president of global footwear and accessories.

The Global Food Safety Initiative has named three new members to its board of directors. The appointments were effective as of January 2013.

Joining the board are:

John Carter, senior director own brand and product quality assurance, Metro Cash & Carry, Germany

Anthony C. Huggett, VP quality management, Nestlé, Switzerland

Jian Xu, VP China Resources Vanguard Corporation, China

FOOTHILLS RANCH, Calif.  —  The Wet Seal Inc. on Friday announced that its COO is resigning as the struggling retailer initiates a corporate workforce reduction as part of a broader cost-saving initiative. In other moves, it will shutter two poor-performing Arden B stores.

The struggling chain, which also authorized a $25 million stock buyback program, said president and COO Ken Seipel resigned effective immediately. His position will not be filled. Instead, Seipel's duties will be shared between CEO John Goodman and CFO Steve Benrubi.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday announced the appointment of Peter Bocian as its new executive vice president and CFO. Bocian, 58, will oversee the company's financial functions including accounting, tax, audit, treasury, investor relations, planning and business development. He will report directly to Robert Edwards, Safeway's president, and will assume his new responsibilities on Feb. 19.

U.K. department store chain, John Lewis, has named Mak Lewis as online director, effective March 4. He will join the John Lewis management board (JLMB), reporting to managing director Andy Street.

Lewis past roles include spending six years at eBay as U.K. managing director and European marketplaces director. He was most recently CEO of Collect+.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced Monday that it has named Peter J. Bocian as EVP and CFO, effective Feb. 19.

Bocian, who will report to Safeway president Robert Edwards, spent a year with Starbucks as the coffee purveyor’s CFO and chief administrative officer. Most recently, he was head of real estate finance for JP Morgan Chase.

North Bergen, N.J. -- The Vitamin Shoppe said Monday it was notified by the FTC that it has been cleared to acquire Super Supplements, with a targeted closing date of Feb. 15.

In December, the vitamin retailer had announced it would purchase the assets of Super Supplements, a specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and supplements, for $50 million.  

Super Supplements operates 31 stores in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and expands Vitamin Shoppe's presence in the Pacific Northwest where it currently operates 17 stores.