C-SUITE

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has named Even Armstrong as VP of government affairs, effective Aug. 1.     Armstrong will lead advocacy efforts related to workforce and employment issues before Congress and federal agencies, including the Department of Labor (DOL), the EEOC and NLRB.     

Sears Canada is losing another top executive who has been on the job for less than a year.   The retailer announced that Carrie Kirkman is leaving her role as president and chief merchant to transition to an “advisory role.” In a statement, the company said Kirkman had been “brought aboard to focus on strategic brand partner development,” and that new brands will debut this fall. Kirkman will reportedly leave her post after July 30.  

Influential and longtime Walmart executive Don Soderquist died after complications related to heart surgery. He was 82.   Soderquist joined Walmart in 1980 as executive VP of administration and logistics and was a driving force behind the company’s growth. From 1988 to 1999, he served as vice chairman and COO. He retired in 2000 and remained on the Walmart board until 2002.   

New store formats loom large in Starbucks Corp.’s long-term strategy.   The coffee giant on Monday announced that Cliff Burrows, who has headed up Starbucks' Americas business for eight years, will lead a new group within the company called Siren Retail. In the role, Burrows will oversee the global expansion of the chain’s new Roastery concept, as well as the development of the upscale Starbucks Reserve stores. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/coffee-giant-two-new-store-expansion-moves  

Some three years after he returned to save J.C. Penney, industry veteran Myron E. (Mike) Ullman will retire from the company on Aug. 1.    Ullman is passing the reins of chairman of Penney’s board of directors to current CEO Marvin R. Ellison. The succession is in accordance with a transition plan the company outlined in 2014.  

Party City Holdco Inc. on Thursday named Daniel J. Sullivan as CFO.   Sullivan succeeds Michael A. Correale, who is stepping down as Party City CFO to focus on the newly created position of executive VP chief accounting officer and treasurer, effective Aug. 29. In his new role, Correale will be responsible for all of the company’s external financial reporting, treasury functions, banking and credit relationships.  

The Kroger Co. on Tuesday announced a series of management changes.    The retailer said Bill Breetz, president of its Houston division, will retire effective Aug. 26. Breetz began his Kroger career in 1972 as a bagger in Louisville, Kentucky., and went on to hold several leadership positions at the chain.      Marlene Stewart, who currently serves as president of the company's Dillons division, will succeed Breetz.    

Quick-service restaurant chain Quiznos has promoted global chief marketing officer Susan Lintonsmith as its new CEO.   Joining Quiznos as chief marketing officer in 2012, Lintonsmith was instrumental in opening the China market and leading the opening of the Quiznos Grill premium sandwich concept. Previous roles in her more than 25-year career include serving as a consultant to Einstein Noah Restaurant Group and as chief marketing officer of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.