C-SUITE

Pier I Imports' loss is Fossil Group's gain.   Pier 1 Imports announced that Jeffrey N. Boyer, executive VP and CFO, is leaving the company effective October 3, 2017 to become CFO of Fossil Group, where he has been a member of the board of directors since 2007. Pier 1 is appointing an executive search firm to conduct a search for a new CFO.   

One of the nation's leading supermarket executives has tapped a retail and digital veteran to join its team.    Albertsons Companies appointed Kevin Turner, former COO at Microsoft, as vice chairman of the board of managers of AB Acquisition, its direct parent. Turned has also been named senior advisor to Albertsons chairman and CEO, Bob Miller.  

Someone forgot to tell At Home that big-box stores are passé.    Since Lee Bird took the reins as chief executive at the beginning of 2013, the Plano, Texas-based home decor superstore retailer has been on a steep upward trajectory — and it shows no signs of losing momentum anytime soon.   

Volatility in the retail industry is now hitting senior retail executives in the pocketbook.   Seventy-three percent of retail companies paid little to no bonuses to senior executives in 2017 for 2016 performance, with 35% paying no bonus and 38% paying only small bonuses to their executives, according to new research by Korn Ferry. The company conducted an analysis of 40 North American retailers with annual sales between $1 billion and $50 billion  

Westlake Ace Hardware has announced two executive promotions.   The company promoted current COO Joe Jeffries to president and COO, continuing to support CEO Tom Knox. In addition, Andrew Schmitt will be promoted to the position of VP of operations for Westlake Ace Hardware. Schmitt currently holds the position of director of retail operations – Western Division, for Ace Hardware Corporation.  

The owner of Ann Taylor, Loft, DressBarn, Lane Bryant and other brands is consolidating its executive leadership structure as part of its efforts to reinvigorate top-line growth.  

A retail legend has passed.   Costco Wholesale Club announced "with great sadness" that co-founder and chairman Jeff Brotman died Tuesday morning. He was 74.   "The thoughts of Costco’s board, management and employees are with Jeff’s wife and family,” Costco said in a short statement.    Brotman co-founded Costco Wholesale with Jim Sinegal. The two opened the first Costco warehouse club location in 1983, in Seattle.

A casual clothing and workwear retailer has ended its hunt for a new finance chief.   Duluth Holdings has appointed Dave Loretta as senior VP and CFO. Loretta will succeed retiring CFO Mark DeOrio.   Prior to joining Duluth Trading, Loretta launched and operated his own company, Pacific Time, LLC, a unique food and beverage business, from 2014 to 2016. Prior to managing his own firm, Loretta held various roles at Nordstrom.