Human Resources

New York City -- Ann Inc., parent to Ann Taylor and Loft brands, announced Wednesday it will launch a four-year investment in young women’s leadership.

CHICAGO — The Network of Executive Women has elected five new members at large to its board of directors.

New board members are Mike Byron, president of supplier diversity for Supervalu; Sarah Chartrand, SVP diversity, talent management and organizational development for Ahold USA; Marnette Perry, SVP Kroger; Suzanne Sears, VP global market development at Kimberly-Clark; and Karen Stuckey, SVP merchandising and general merchandise manager of the home division for Walmart Stores.

Dallas -- Zale Corp. said Wednesday that it has named Thomas A. Haubenstricker as senior VP and CFO, effective Oct. 17.

Haubenstricker joins Zale from Turnberry Advisors where he served as a managing director.

Nashville, Tenn. -- The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) honored IHL president and Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI) co-founder Greg Buzek with the first annual Paul Singer Award at the 13th Annual Angels in Adoption Congressional gala. RetailROI is a charitable foundation that was established to help the 400 million orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide.

The award was presented in a ceremony on Oct. 5, in Washington, D.C.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has announced a $1 million contribution to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Grants of up to $50,000 will fund repairs and renovations at 23 clubs across the United States.

LCEF selected the clubs based on immediate facility improvement needs, the creativity of the projects and the potential impact on club members, Lowe's reported. Club staff will work to complete the projects in the next year and in many cases Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers will provide hands-on help.

New York City -- The Conference Board Employment Trends Index, released Tuesday, showed a decrease in September to 100.95, down from the revised figure of 101.37 in August. The September figure is up 4.4% from the same month a year ago.

Stamford, Conn. -- Spa operator Red Door Spas said Tuesday it has named Jeff Kohl as its senior VP and COO. Kohl is charged with directing all Red Door Spa operations globally, including strategic partnership development and management of the company's 31 full-service spa and salon properties and 1,500+ spa associates.

He will report to Todd Walter, CEO of Red Door Spa Holdings.

Kohl was previously director of global hospitality sales for Precor.
 

New York City -- Former American Apparel CFO Adrian Kowalewski resigned as executive VP corporate strategy, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission this morning, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

Kowalewski entered into a separation agreement, in which he will receive an unpaid base salary through the Oct. 7 separation date, any unreimbursed expenses and vesting of the 1,066,666 unvested shares of restricted stock previously awarded to him, the report said.