Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

Two days after announcing the resignation of chairman and CEO Steve Odland, Office Depot on Wednesday announced improved results for the third quarter ended Sept. 25 despite a challenging economic climate which pressured sales. The company said it achieved third-quarter profits of $54 million, reversing a prior-year loss of $413 million, while earnings per share rebounded to 18 cents compared with a prior-year loss of $1.51. Total sales declined 4.3% to roughly $2.9 billion, including the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange rates.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot announced Monday that its chairman and CEO Steve Odland has resigned from the company. The departure comes just days after Office Depot, Odland and the former CFO were levied with civil penalties related to an SEC probe.

Odland’s departure, effective Nov. 1, is by mutual agreement with the Office Depot board of directors, said the company.