Human Resources

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — New York Mets baseball executive Paul DePodesta is the newest member of the Sears Holdings board.

Although his qualifications are somewhat unconventional, DePodesta was elected to the board because his experience as VP of player development and amateur scouting for the Mets is believe to help Sears Holdings in the area of personnel development.

New York -- The Jones Group Inc. announced Wednesday it has promoted Aida Tejero-DeColli to the newly created position of chief people officer, effective immediately.

Tejero-DeColli will continue to lead all efforts supporting human resources activities at Jones, including talent acquisition and management, training and development, and associate compensation, benefit and recognition programs.

Tejero-DeColli began her career with Jones Group in 1994 as director of human resources and most recently served as EVP human resources.  

Riverside, Calif. -- Chicago-based General Growth Properties announced it has named Jim Fuson as the new general manager for Galleria at Tyler, located in Riverside, Calif.

Effective September 2012, Fuson as general manager is responsible for the overall shopping center with primary focus on development, leasing, and increasing the value of the asset.  In addition, he will be overseeing the administration, operations, marketing, business development, capital improvements and the strategic plan developed for the center.
 

Menlo park, Calif. -- Technology executives expect information technology hiring to increase in first quarter 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report.

In the latest quarterly survey, 17% of chief information officers (CIOs) said they plan to expand their IT departments, and 8% expect cutbacks, for a net 9% projected increase in hiring activity. This is up six points from the previous quarter's projections. Seventy-five percent of CIOs plan to maintain their current staffing levels.

Dollar General fined tuned its full year sales and profit forecast following better than expected third quarter results that also flashed a few warning signs.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Former Estee Lauder executive Suzanne Dawson has joined high-end skincare brand Murad as its new CMO. Dawson will oversee all global marketing, including brand development, advertising, public relations, creative and education for products, services and new market opportunities. She will report to GM Richard Murad.

TORRANCE, Calif. — Smack Sportswear, a maker of custom-designed volleyball and beach active apparel, has lured the former True Religion Apparel executive Charles A. Lesser out of retirement and into its CFO spot.

Smack manufactures its Southern California-inspired apparel in its headquarters, five miles away from the home of beach volleyball.

CHICAGO — OfficeMax has appointed EVP, CFO and CAO Bruce Besanko, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, to the USO of Illinois’ board of directors. Besanko will join the USO's finance committee and serve a three-year term.