Corporate Governance

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group Inc., a provider of innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail and healthcare companies, has named Beverly Grant as president of retail solutions. She will report to Mark Parise, president of IRI, SymphonyIRI.

DALLAS — Karen Katz, president and CEO of The Neiman Marcus Group, announced that Joseph Weber will be joining the company Sept. 4, as SVP, chief human resources officer.  Weber will be responsible for all areas of human resources and loss prevention including associate relations, learning and development, recruitment, compensation, internal communications and benefits.

STERLING, Va. — Former Walmart executive David Hoodis has joined the corporate advisory board of Natural Insight, a private retail technology company engaged in workforce management.

“We feel privileged to have access to David’s respected experience in workforce innovation. His success with numerous leading retailers brings us an added perspective that enables us to stay even further ahead of market need,” stated Stefan Midford, president and CEO of Natural Insight in making the announcement.

New York -- California and Indiana have the highest statewide sales taxes in the country, but Tennessee and Arizona take top billing when local sales taxes are added to the calculation, according to a new analysis by the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that monitors fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels.

New York -- Casual Male is shifting its focus to its Destination XL (DXL) format. By the end of 2015, the company expects to have closed all 400 Casual Male stores and have 225 to 250 DXL units, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

The DXL stores feature a wide array of merchandise, including both private label and name brands, and price points that range from the lower-end to the more upscale. By the end of 2012, the company expects to have 51 DXL stores in operation, the report said.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands stockholders voted at a special meeting on Tuesday to approve the sale of the company for about $1.32 billion.

Collective, which owns the Payless and Stride Rite shoe store banners, had announced in May that it accepted a purchase offer from a group that includes Wolverine Worldwide Inc., Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital.

New York -- Reebok has opened its first Reebok Fit Hub in the United States, on Fifth Avenue at 37th Street in Manhattan.

The 2,500-sq.-ft. store is located on the top of a Reebok CrossFit Box gym, which is on the street level. It sells a wide range of fitness apparel and footwear for men and women. Customers can also get fitness advice from in-store experts.

Designed by Reebok’s global environmental design division and Ziba, Portland, Ore., Fit Hut has a raw, industrial look, with an exposed ceiling.

Chicago -- Chicago high-end fashion retailer Mark Shale said Tuesday it has filed for reorganization bankruptcy.

The 83-year-old company is seeking strategic alternatives, including a partner to fortify the business, according to president Rich Myers.

The three existing stores – all in Chicago – will continue to operate during the reorganization process.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group said Tuesday it has named Joseph Weber as senior VP and chief human resources officer, effective Sept. 4.

Weber joins the retailer from Bank of America Corp., where he was most recently head of human resources EMEA, Latin America and Canada. 

New York -- The Jones Group said Tuesday that its Nine West banner has launched a new YouTube network called Channel 9 that will feature premium programming and user-generated content.

"What we are creating goes far beyond providing branded content," said Richard Dickson, Jones Group president and CEO. "Channel 9 is a new and innovative first-to-market portal for the footwear and fashion obsessed that will bring brand adjacent content and entertainment to viewers.”