C-SUITE

Elliot S. Jaffe, ascena retail group’s co-founder and non-executive chairman of the board of directors, announced his plan to retire.   Jaffe co-founded dressbarn in 1962 and served as CEO until 2002. He was ascena’s chairman of the board until January 2011, and then transitioned to non-executive chairman.  

Nordstrom’s longtime CFO is stepping down.    Nordstrom announced that executive VP and CFO Mike Koppel has decided to retire from the company in spring 2017. Koppel will remain in his role until then to support the search for a new CFO and assist with his successor's transition.    Koppel joined Nordstrom in 1999 and has been the company's finance head since 2001.  

Ed Burstell will join Hudson’s Bay Company’s leadership team as head of partnerships.    In this newly created position, Burstell will develop and lead partnerships to drive innovative and exclusive offerings across all of HBC’s banners globally — a move that will help differentiate the company across the marketplace. Burstell, who comes aboard on Dec. 5, will report to the company’s CEO Jerry Storch.  

Ron Loveless, the first CEO of Sam's Club who grew the retailer for several years before retiring in 1986, has died.   According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Loveless died Monday at the age of 73 after "a long battle with cancer," according to a memo from Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and Sam's Club CEO Rosalind Brewer sent to Sam's Club employees.  

That didn’t take very long.   Industry veteran Paula Schneider, former CEO of American Apparel, has been named chief executive of DG Premium Brands, whose brands include 7 For All Mankind, Splendid and Ella Moss.   Schneider took the reins of the embattled American Apparel in December 2014. She steered the chain through bankruptcy and reorganization and launched an ambitious turnaround strategy. Schneider left American Apparel in early October amid rumors that the company was on the block.

Sears Holdings announced that Jason Hollar has been promoted to CFO, effective immediately.     Hollar succeeds Robert A. Schriesheim, who the chain previously announced would be departing to focus on his other business interests and pursue other career opportunities.    Hollar, 43, joined Sears Holdings in October 2014 as senior VP, finance, overseeing the financial planning & analysis function, the business finance relationship with centralized finance, and procurement. 

Clint Pierce is joining Shoe Carnival as its VP, divisional merchandise manager for athletic footwear.   Pierce, who will oversee the athletic footwear category for the entire enterprise, will report to Carl Scibetta, executive VP, chief merchandising officer.    Most recently, Pierce served as senior VP, general merchandise manager for footwear and apparel at Sports Authority.   

Weis Markets has appointed R. Gregory Zeh, Jr. as VP/CIO of the company.    Zeh will oversee Weis’ day-to-day information technology functions, working in support of marketing and merchandising, supply chain and in-store management retail applications.