Human Resources

Grapevine, Texas – GameStop plans to hire approximately 17,000 employees nationwide as the company prepares for the upcoming PlayStation 4 and Xbox One console launches, as well as the holiday shopping season.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced that Kathleen McLaughlin, 48, has been named president of the Walmart Foundation, effective Oct. 15.

In addition to leading corporate giving, she will have responsibility for the company's global sustainability, women's economic empowerment initiatives and healthier food initiatives.

McLaughlin, previously a senior partner at global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, is a dual American-Canadian citizen and was based in Toronto.

Mashnatucket, Conn. -- Foxwoods Resort Casino is reportedly building a 300,000-sq.-ft. retail center that will house outlet shops. According to the Associated Press, Foxwoods is partnering with Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. to create a Tanger Outlets complex that will feature more than 80 retailers, including American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein and Nike.

Irvine, Calif. — LA Fitness has announced that it will open its fourth location in San Antonio. Construction of the 45,000-sq.-ft club will begin in the spring of 2014. LA Fitness has over 45 locations throughout Texas, concentrated in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas.

When complete, the new LA Fitness will create approximately 50 new full-time and part-time jobs.

In anticipation of increased store traffic this holiday shopping season, Jo-Ann has announced plans to hire more than 3,000 seasonal employees in stores across the country — a 14% increase over its non-seasonal in-store workforce.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. has promoted Steve McKinney to president of the Fry's Food Stores division. Fry's operates 119 food stores in Arizona.

McKinney, 57, has been VP of operations at the company's Ralphs division since 2007. He succeeds Jon Flora, who passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago.

SGK, formerly marketed as Schawk, Inc., a leading global brand development, activation and deployment company, has appointed Scott Lucas to the new position of managing director, brand development to oversee its Brandimage and Anthem operations in Cincinnati.

Former president of Giant-Landover, Anthony Hucker, has joined Schnuck Markets as EVP and chief strategy officer.

Hucker recently resigned as president of Giant-Landover, a chain owned by Ahold USA that runs 169 stores in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas.

"Anthony is a tremendous talent who shares our values; he's customer-focused and a true merchant in every sense," Schnucks chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck said. "We expect that he will add velocity to efforts that will ensure Schnucks' continued growth and success."