Human Resources

Dallas -- 7-Eleven said Tuesday it has completed its acquisition of 55 Sam’s Mart stores in the greater Charlotte, N.C., area, part of the c-store operator’s plan to accelerate its growth in the region.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Hong Kong -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Tuesday it has named Greg Foran as president and CEO of Walmart China. Foran, who joined Walmart last October, is a long-time veteran of Australian retailing group Woolworths, where his areas of experience included operations, merchandising, marketing and replenishment.

Foran succeeds Ed Chan, who resigned last year after a food scandal that involved mislabeled pork and the forced temporary closures of a dozen stores in central China.

Dallas  -- The Container Store announced it will open six locations in 2012, making this the largest real estate growth year in the company's history and bringing the company's store count to 59 by year's end. 

The new stores will be located in Arlington, Texas;  Las Vegas; El Segundo, Calif., Peabody, Mass., and Westbury, N.Y., with a sixth location still being finalized.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us has named Richard Barry as  senior VP, chief merchandising officer, Toys“R”Us, U.S.  In his new role, Barry is responsible for all aspects of merchandising initiatives for the company’s U.S. operations.

Prior to the promotion, Barry served as VP, general merchandising manager for Toys“R”Us, U.S., overseeing the learning and electronics and entertainment product categories.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters Inc. has appointed a former executive as CEO of its namesake brand. The company named Tedford Marlow as head of the Urban Outfitters Group, effective Feb. 6. Marlow he retired from the chain in 2010, after spending nine years as president of the Urban Outfitters brand.

The announcement came almost a month after Richard Hayne, the company's chairman and president, succeeded CEO Glen Senk, who resigned. Hayne co-founded the company in 1970.
 

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek Inc. has promoted Jim Bell to the newly created position of executive VP and COO. He will oversee the retailer's information technology systems, real estate, distribution and logistics, planning and allocation, and finance.

Bell is currently the company's chief financial officer, and will continue to fill that role in his new job, the company said Thursday.
 

New York City -- Aeropostale said Friday it has appointed seven-year board member Karin Hirtler-Garvey as chairman of the board, replacing Julian R. Geiger who has stepped down as chairman and resigned from the board.

In November, Gieger left his chairman/CEO post with Aeropostale to join Crumbs Bake Shop as president and CEO.

Hirtler-Garvey is a CPA, and most recently was the chief risk executive for Ally Financial Inc.  Prior to that, she held various senior level management positions at Bank of America.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples announced the appointment of Mike Edwards to executive VP, U.S. retail merchandising. He previously served as president and CEO of Borders Group and had also served as the company’s chief merchant.