American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

New York City -- As was previously announced, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. longtime chief executive James O'Donnell will step down Saturday and be replaced by former Levi's executive Robert Hanson.

O'Donnell, 70, said early last year he planned to retire. Hanson was named as his successor in November.

In addition, Jay Schottenstein, non-executive chairman, has become executive chairman.
 

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters said Friday that it has begun a search for a marketing communications agency partner or partners.

The scope of services, according to the retailer, will include traditional and digital media strategy, planning and execution, as well as collaboration in creative development for its American Eagle Outfitters, Aerie and 77kids brands in North America and internationally.

“Hiring an agency is a natural evolution in the growth of the AEO family of brands,” said Michael Leedy, CMO.

New York City -- Jesta I.S. said Wednesday it has partnered with Americaneagle.com to offer a pre-integrated front-end e-commerce solution designed to deliver an integrated and comprehensive merchandising suite that allows retailers to rapidly deploy a solid merchandising infrastructure and a comprehensive e-commerce solution.

“Increasingly, we are seeing a higher demand for a full end-to-end integrated e-commerce solution,” said Jerry Boduch, director of business development at Americaneagle.com.

PITTSBURGH — With the opening of stores in the new international markets of Morocco, Jordan and Egypt, as well as expansion plans in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, American Eagle Outfitters is establishing quite a presence in the Middle East.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters announced Wednesday that it has opened stores in three new international markets — Morocco, Jordan and Egypt.

The company said it also opened its third store in Saudi Arabia, and has plans for a second store in Lebanon in early 2012. The retailer currently operates in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE through its franchise partner, M.H. Alshaya.

The new year will see a changing of the guard in the chief executive’s office of several big retailers. Here are four to watch:

Costco
The torch has been passed at Costco Wholesale Corp., with president and COO Craig Jelinek stepping into the very big shoes of the company’s longtime chief executive and co-founder Jim Sinegal (effective January 1, 2012).

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Old Navy has become the latest retailer to partner with Shopkick, a shopping mobile app that rewards shoppers for walking into stores. Customers who have the shopkick app on their smartphones will be able to receive walk-in rewards at any of Old Navy's nearly 1,000 U.S. locations, Shopkick reported. To celebrate, Old Navy will offer $10 off of a $40 purchase plus 150 Shopkick reward points for the partnership's first weekend (Nov.

NEW YORK — Consumer spending slowed in October, sending a note of caution as retailers head into the holiday season. Eleven retailers missed expectations for same-store sales, while three chains beat estimates, according to a preliminary tally by Thomson Reuters. However, while the October results were not as promising as some retailers had hoped, sales for the most part rose and most chains reported results that were only slightly off from analysts’ estimates. Some analysts blamed Wall Street for underestimating how much caution is still out there.

NEW YORK — With fewer retailers following in Walmart's footsteps in not disclosing monthly sales, it has become harder to gauge the overall health of the industry. Still, enough of them reported this monht to show that consumer spending slowed in October, sending a note of caution as retailers head into the holiday season. Eleven retailers missed expectations for same-store sales, while three chains beat estimates, according to a preliminary tally by Thomson Reuters.

New York City -- Consumer spending slowed in October, sending a note of caution as retailers head into the holiday season. Eleven retailers missed expectations for same-store sales, while three chains beat estimates, according to a preliminary tally by Thomson Reuters. However, while the October results were not as promising as some retailers had hoped, sales for the most part rose and most chains reported results that were only slightly off from analysts’ estimates. Some analysts blamed Wall Street for underestimating how much caution is still out there.