Claire's names North America president

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. Claire's Stores has named John Zimmermann as president, North America reporting to Gene Kahn, Claire's ceo. Zimmermann will lead the Claire's and Icing North American businesses.

"Claire's North America is our largest division and an important segment of our business. We are very pleased to have John, with his impressive credentials and capabilities, providing the leadership to take our business forward," said Kahn.

Starting as an executive trainee in 1981 with John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia, Pa.-based department store, John went on to hold senior merchandising and executive positions with retail chains that included Federated Department Stores, The Children's Place and Bon Marche, Carter Hawley Hale's The Broadway Stores and Contempo Casuals, as well as Bradlees. At Zale, as a corporate senior vp and president of Zale Canada Company, he led a successful turnaround of the company.