Footwear

San Francisco -- Gymboree Corp. announced Tuesday that it has appointed Mark Breitbard as CEO, effective Jan. 14. Breitbard joins Gymboree from Gap Inc., where he was president of Gap North America.

He also has served as EVP of GapKids and babyGap.

Breitbard succeeds interim CEO Kip M. Garcia, who will resume his former duties as president. Garcia stepped in when former CEO Matthew McCauley resigned last September.

Interim COO Yvonne Hao will return to her role as an operating partner at Bain Capital.

St. Louis -- Famous Footwear, a division of Brown Shoe Co., said Tuesday it has selected Cincinnati-based Empower MediaMarketing as its media agency of record.

Empower will work with Famous Footwear to reach its target customer, as well as to help drive sales online and in-store.
 
“The landscape of paid, owned and earned media continues to change, and Famous Footwear needs to make sure its marketing efforts are effective and efficient,” said Amy Rose, media manager, Famous Footwear.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust announced Monday the acquisition of University Park Village, an open-air center located in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 173,220-sq.-ft. center is 97% occupied, generates sales of more than $800/sq. ft., and is tenanted by Apple, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Lululemon Athletica and Madewell, among others.

Glimcher purchased University Park Village for $105 million.

Rockford, Mich. -- Wolverine Worldwide said Tuesday it will make several organizational moves to drive future growth and global brand building in the wake of its October 2012 acquisition of the Performance & Lifestyle Group.

Walter Killough will step down as CEO of the 109 unit Delia’s retail chain on April 1.

The retail said it and Killough reached a mutual agreement not to renew his employment agreement which was scheduled to expire on August 2. Plans now call for Killough to leave the company on April 1, however he may stay on longer if a replacement has not been named.

1. Baby & Child, Santa Monica, Calif.

A brand new concept from Restoration Hardware, Baby & Child offers a hip, modern take on upscale children's’ home furnishings. With its taupe tones and sophisticated stylings, this new format is far removed from the pastel, whimsical universe of Pottery Barn Kids and most other kids’ stores. Read More

Indianapolis -- Finish Line Inc. reported Friday a loss of $107,000 for the quarter ended Dec. 1, compared with a profit of $5.55 million in the year-ago period. The unexpected swing, said the company, was due in part to a lukewarm response to Finish Line’s new online store.
 
Sales in the quarter climbed 5.2% to $296.6 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $296 million in revenue, and same-store sales rose 3.6%.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap has added one more brand to its existing portfolio, purchasing Intermix Holdco for approximately $130 million in cash.

Intermix is a New York-based multi-brand specialty retailer of luxury and contemporary women’s apparel and accessories. It operates 32 boutiques across North America, along with an e-commerce site, offering a mix of luxury brands, including up-and-coming designers. Gap intends to expand Intermix’s network of stores, as well as add significant visibility and enhancements to its online site.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Former Disney executive Andy Mooney has been appointed as president and CEO of Quiksilver. He succeeds Quiksilver’s co-founder Bob McKnight, who has been named executive chairman. Mooney will also join the board of directors.

The changes in leadership will become effective January 11.

San Francisco -- In a development that will take it into the growing global luxury market, Gap Inc. announced Thursday it has acquired women’s apparel retailer Intermix Holdco for approximately $130 million in cash. The transaction was completed Dec. 31.