Corporate Governance

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings Inc. has named Carmine Fortino as executive VP business development. He most recently served as president of North American operations for Atrium Innovations Inc., a Canadian natural health products company. Fortino also previously held various management roles within Loblaw Companies Limited, including executive VP of Ontario operations, as well as executive positions with Zehrmart Limited, a grocery chain owned by Loblaw.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah-based online retailer Overstock.com has a fresh round of TV ads, and they feature Snoop Lion (formerly known as Snoop Dogg), his wife, Shante, his daughter, Cori, and his sons, Corde and Cordell. 

The ads depict Snoop using Overstock.com to find products that solve his wife and kids' most pressing problems.

By John Orr, [email protected]

Passive-aggressive, unengaged employees just aren’t that into your customers. Worse, they might be taking it out on customers, whose experience sends them to competitors. Contrast that with the upside of having an engaged staff happy at their jobs and going out of their way to treat customers well.

Weak second-quarter financial results from Office Depot offered the latest evidence of the strategic rationale underpinning the company’s pending merger with longtime rival OfficeMax.

Office Depot said sales in the second quarter ended June 29 declined 4% to roughly $2.4 billion and it posted a net loss of $64 million, or 23 cents a share, equal to a loss reported in the second quarter the prior year.

Dallas -- PeopleAnswers announced a software licensing agreement for David’s Bridal to use the PeopleAnswers HR-focused business solution to improve in-store sales performance with higher quality team members.

ABILENE, Texas — Law firms Brodsky & Smith LLC and Levi & Korsinsky are investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Alco Stores Inc., in relation to a merger agreement between Argonne Capital Group, LLC and Alco. Under the terms of the transaction, announced July 25, Alco shareholders will receive $14 in cash for each share of Alco stock they own.

SEATTLE — As Amazon prepares one of its distribution warehouses for a visit from President Barack Obama, and the economy continues on its path toward recovery, the Internet retailer has announced plans to create more than 5,000 new full-time jobs in its U.S. fulfillment network to meet growing customer demand. 

KATY, Texas — CBRE’s National Retail Investment Group has closed on the sale of Highland Knolls Shopping Center in Katy, Texas, to Revesco Properties. The 87,469-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored shopping center is 94.6% occupied.