Corporate Governance

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Thursday that Steve Haber will join the company as senior VP and president, Home Appliances.

Haber was previously executive VP at Sony Electronics, leading the Product to Consumer Marketing and the Home and Digital Reading business divisions.
 

When North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management took over as leasing and managing agent for Fairlane Village Mall – located in Pottsville, Pa. – in 2006, the impending economic downturn, a likely 80,000-sq.-ft. vacancy and growing industry consensus that the days of the small-market malls were numbered created a perfect storm of challenges.

Six years later, the 405,000-sq.-ft. property serves as a repositioning benchmark. Its success story is underscored by the March 2012 opening of Kohl’s and the impending arrival of Michaels later this year.

Evansville, Ind. -- Shoe Carnival reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 dipped to $3.3 million, from $4.4 million. Sales edged up 1.1% to $181.9 million in the quarter, and same-store sales dropped 3%.

President and CEO Mark Lemond told investors that heavy promotional activities to rid the chain of cold-weather footwear after an unseasonably warm winter had a negative impact on margins.

Bentonville, Ark. -- A state attorney for California said Wednesday that Wal-Mart has agreed to pay a $2.1 million penalty for overcharging customers in the state.

Wal-Mart is being penalized for charging prices higher than those posted, violating a 2008 judgment for it to halt the overcharging.

Dallas -- The Neiman Marcus Group said Thursday that it will invest $28 million in Glamour Sales Holding, a Shanghai-based e-commerce company, as part of its strategy to gain a foothold in the Asian e-commerce marketplace.

“We are taking this bold step to establish Neiman Marcus Group as an international brand,” said Karen Katz, president and CEO, Neiman Marcus Group.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters said Wednesday that CFO Eric Artz is leaving the company, and will be replaced by current chief accounting officer Frank Conforti, effective April 3.

No reason has been given for Artz’s departure, other than he plans to return to the west coast.

Urban Outfitters operates under the Anthropologie, BHLDN, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters said Wednesday that CFO Eric Artz is leaving the company, and will be replaced by current chief accounting officer Frank Conforti, effective April 3.

No reason has been given for Artz’s departure, other than he plans to return to the west coast.

Urban Outfitters operates under the Anthropologie, BHLDN, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands.
 

Chicago -- Claire's Stores reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose to $39.5 million, from $21 million in the year-ago period.

Sales edged up 3.1% to $434.9 million, compared with $422 million last year. Same-store sales rose 0.9%, consisting of a 3.4% increase in North America and a 3.6% decrease in Europe.
 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Shopping center owner Regency Centers said Thursday that it will install electric vehicle charging stations at 19 of its grocery-anchored and community shopping centers in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

Regency is partnering with Ecotality to install Blink Level 2 EV charging stations at the 19 centers; the rollout is part of The EV Project, the largest national deployment of commercial and residential charging stations in major U.S. cities and metropolitan areas.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald’s Corp. announced Wednesday that vice chairman and CEO Jim Skinner will retire on June 30.

Skinner will be succeeded by current president and COO Dan Thompson, 48, effective July 1.