Aeropostale

Seattle -- Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile has appointed Mindy Meads to its board of directors. Meads previously served as co-CEO of Aeropostale and president and CEO of Victoria’s Secret, among other executive posts in a 35-year apparel retail career. She also serves on the board of Wet Seal.

SEATTLE — Blue Nile, an online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, has appointed former Aeropostale co-CEO Mindy Meads to its board of directors. 

Meads has 35 years of experience in the global apparel industry. She currently serves on two public boards — Wet Seal, a specialty teen brand, and Mela Sciences, a bio tech company. In these roles, she provides strategic counsel focused on growth and the use of multichannel business strategies.

New York -- A Monday report by Bloomberg said that ex-Aeropostale executive Christopher Finazzo – convicted last week on 14 counts of  fraud against the retailer – has been order to forfeit more than $25 million.

Jurors unanimously found that Finazzo must turn over $25.79 million in cash, interest in four Calverton, N.Y., properties and as much as $300,000 from a trading account, according to the Bloomberg report, which cited a statement by Robert Nardoza, spokesman for Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch.
 

New York -- Christopher Finazzo, 57, who was an executive VP and chief merchandising officer at Aeropostale, was found guilty on Thursday of 14 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the fraud convictions and up to five years for the conspiracy charge.
      
The jury took less than five hours to reach the verdict, which came after a three-week criminal trial in Brooklyn, N.Y.
     

NEW YORK — Christopher Finazzo, 57, a former EVP and CMO at Aeropostale, was found guilty of 14 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the fraud convictions and up to five years for the conspiracy charge.

The jury took less than five hours to reach the verdict, which came after a three-week criminal trial in Brooklyn, N.Y. 

New York -- Aeropostale Inc. reported an unexpected loss for its fourth quarter, hurt by declining same-store sales and store asset impairment charges. The teen apparel chain also forecast a loss for the current quarter, citing markdowns and a weak economy.

"We anticipate a challenging first quarter as a result of expected margin pressures from holiday carryover inventory, and the impact of a weak macroeconomic environment,” said Aeropostale CEO Thomas Johnson.

NEW YORK — Aeropostale reported that net sales for the fourth quarter decreased 1% to $797.7 million, from $808.4 million in the year ago period. Fourth quarter comparable sales, including the e-commerce channel, decreased 8% compared with a 7% decrease for the corresponding 14-week period of the prior year.  Fourth quarter comparable store sales, excluding the e-commerce channel, decreased 9%, compared to a decrease of 9% for the corresponding 14-week period of the prior year. 

South Bay, Calif. -- South Bay Galleria marketing manager Sherilyn Haddon announced that the Los Angeles County mall will add three new stores to its list of retailers, including Aeropostale and P.S. From Aeropostale.

Tutti Frutti yogurt will also open at the mall.

The P.S. From Aeropostale store will be directly connected to the new Aeropostale store; both are slated to open in May 2013. Tutti Frutti is expected to open at Center Court in March 2013.