Human Resources

Michael Rayden, an innovative merchant credited with developing retail concepts that catered to the tween demographic, has announced plans to step down as president and CEO of Ascena’s Justice and Brothers division.

Rayden will leave the company at the end of January 15 following a lengthy career in the apparel industry. Ascena said it has begun a global search for a successor.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. –- An inventory clerk at a Sears Holding Corp. distribution center in Logan Township, N.J., has reportedly been arrested for stealing merchandise worth $3.7 million in retail value and selling it for both cash and bartered services to a network of individuals in the tri-state area. According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, following an investigation by Sears loss prevention officials and local and county police, Kim Watson, 32, was arrested on Friday, Oct. 17.  

Veteran Home Deport operations executive Marc Powers has been elevated to the role of EVP of U.S. stores as part of an ongoing leadership transformation.

Few people know Home Depot from the ground up the way Powers does. He began his career with the company in 1986 as an hourly employee and over the course of the past 28 years served as store manager, district manager and regional vice president. He most recently served as SVP of operations for the company’s nearly 2,000 U.S. stores.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue announced that it plans to close its Saks Fifth Avenue store in the Shops at Riverside in Hackensack, N.J. The store is expected to close in late 2014.   “Closing a location is never an easy business decision. At this time, we are committed to offering support and assistance to our team affected by the closing,” commented Marigay McKee, President of Saks Fifth Avenue.

RadioShack’s same-day mobile repair service, branded as Fix it Here!, has been extended to more locations in the Chicago market.

The service is billed as a first-of-its-kind from a national retailer and offers owners of broken mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones the ability to have them repaired the same day, typically in less than two hours, for prices starting at $39.99.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot announced that it has named Marc Powers executive VP, U.S. stores, effective Nov. 1, 2014. He replaces Marvin Ellison, who was recently named president and CEO designee of J.C. Penney Co.  

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack's Fix It Here same-day mobile repair service is now available in 26 stores in the Chicago area. Services include repairs for cracked screens, broken buttons and damaged charging ports.  

New York, N.Y. -- Savills Studley, a global commercial real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation, announced the promotion of Stephen G. Berliner executive VP & branch sanager, New York Office to executive VP, New York Tri-State Region.