Corporate Governance

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Mauro Porcini has been named chief design officer at PepsiCo, the company announced.

Porcini, who served as chief design officer at 3M, will responsible for infusing design thinking into PepsiCo's organization and culture by globally managing design with a creative, innovative and consumer-centered approach for PepsiCo's brands, with a strong focus on its top 12 global brands: Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, Quaker, Tropicana, Lipton, Sierra Mist/7UP, Doritos, Cheetos, Mountain Dew, Sun and Mirinda.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 4.8% in June compared with the same month last year, and year-over-year increases are expected to continue into the holiday season shipping cycle, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.


Santa Monica, Calif. -- Santa Monica Place, the open-air shopping center in downtown Santa Monica, Calif., has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea has announced plans to install solar energy panels on two distribution centers in the Eastern United States. Installation will occur this summer on the chain’s center in Perryville, Md., and Westampton, N.J. Both projects will rank among the largest commercial rooftop solar installations in the United States, and their implementation will extend the Ikea solar presence to nearly 89% of its U.S. locations.

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela's Inc. announced that, effective January 1, 2013, Joseph M. Friebe, executive VP and president and CEO of the chain’s World’s Foremost Bank, will transition from his current positions and will become a special advisor to the CEO of the bank through 2014, when he plans to retire.

“Under Joe’s leadership, the Cabela’s Club Visa program has posted industry-leading results, which have contributed greatly to our strategic growth,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela's CEO.

Peachtree City, Ga. -- Cooper Lighting has announced a call for entries for its 36th Annual Source Awards national lighting design competition. The competition, which focuses on furthering the understanding, knowledge and function of lighting as a primary element in design, is open to all lighting designers, architects, engineers, professional designers and consultants who use Cooper Lighting fixtures in an interior or exterior design project.

Roseville, Calif. -- Revionics, a provider of price optimization systems, announced it has acquired the business and related assets of Retail Optimization, New Haven, Conn., a provider of cloud-based assortment and space optimization systems. Terms were not disclosed.

New York -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. said Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income more than tripled as the company opened new stores and demand grew for its fashions and accessories.

For the three months through March 31, Michael Kors earned $43.6 million, up from $13.6 million in the same quarter last year.

Revenue rose 58% to $380 million, from $240 million. Same-store sales jumped 36%.

Michael Kors opened 71 stores this year, bringing its store count to 237. Retail sales rose 80% to $172.2 million.

New York -- J.Crew Group is expanding into Asia through a partnership with Hong Kong- based specialty store operator Lane Crawford.

Beginning in October, a curated selection of the J.Crew autumn/winter 2012 women's ready-to-wear and shoes, men's apparel and accessory collections will be available at select Lane Crawford stores in Hong Kong and China. It is the first time J.Crew goods will be featured in a retail environment outside of North America.

New York -- A report released Monday by A.T. Kearney showed that Brazil once again first among developing countries for global retail expansion.

A.T. Kearney’s Global Consumer Institute’s 2012 Global Retail Development Index ranks the top 30 developing countries for global retail expansion.