Apple, Inc.

As Hurricane Irene raged up the East Coast over the weekend of Aug. 26-28, Apple -- like many retailers strategically positioned in the storm’s path -- turned out the lights on its New York-area stores, including all three Manhattan locations, New Jersey and Connecticut, to shield itself from Irene’s wrath.

But on the same day it temporarily shuttered its East Coast stores, Apple officially opened locations in North Carolina, Arkansas and, yes, France.

New York City -- J.C. Penney Co. CEO Myron "Mike" Ullman is on track to receive a hefty exit package when he retires from the company in early 2012. The package currently is valued at about $30.7 million, according to an analysis prepared for The Wall Street Journal.

Ullman will be succeeded by Apple retail guru Ron Johnson.

Cupertino, Calif. -- Apple announced late Wednesday that its CEO Steve Jobs has resigned his post, effectively immediately, to be succeeded by current COO Tim Cook.

Jobs, the visionary whose contributions created the world’s most innovative technology company, is battling pancreatic cancer and has received a liver transplant. Concerns about his health led to his decision to resign.

CUPERTINO, California — Apple announced that it has named Tim Cook, previously COO, as the company's new CEO, replacing Steve Jobs who has resigned from the position. Jobs has been elected chairman of the board and Cook will join the board, effective immediately.

By Liana Hill, [email protected]

Indianapolis -- Shoe retailer Finish Line said Thursday it has released an e-commerce enabled app for Apple and Android that provides geo-targeted store location and real-time inventory functions.

Based on the location of the user, the free app provides detailed store location information including address, phone number and driving directions. Once a store is selected, users have real-time visibility to the specific inventory of that store, effectively giving them remote access to view what’s on the sales floor and in the back room.

New York City -- Apple has hired executive search firm Egon Zehnder International to help it find a replacement for its retail head Ron Johnson, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

The reports suggest that in hiring Egon Zehnder, which has offices around the globe, Apple may be looking for an executive with international retail experience. Apple is set to open nearly 30 stores this year outside of the United States.

PLANO, Texas  — JCPenney said Tuesday that its veteran marketing chief Mike Boylson has retired from the company. His successor will be selected by newly minted CEO Ron Johnson in what will be the former Apple executive’s first senior-level appointment at JCPenney.

Boylson was with the department store chain for more than three decades, the last eight years as chief marketing officer. He said in June he would retire from the company on July 1, according to a JCPenney spokeswoman.