News

Houston -- Francesca’s Holdings Corp. announced Monday that it has appointed Men’s Wearhouse CFO Neill Davis to its newly created position of president. Both companies are based in Houston.

Davis, a 15-year executive of Men’s Wearhouse, has been a board member of the apparel and accessories chain for the past five years. He will officially become Francesca’s president on Aug. 6.

North Plainfield, N.J. -- Business appears to be improving, according to a survey by Levin Management Corp. The firm conducted the study among its retail tenants in 90 properties.

The mid-year survey, which polled 250 retailers, indicated positive changes year-over-year. At mid-year 2012, 64.2% of respondents reported the same or higher sales volume compared with this time last year; 35.7% reported lower sales. At mid-year 2011, 50.1% of respondents reported the same or higher sales; 49.8% reported lower sales.

Walmart observed its 50th anniversary in fine fashion this week as its share price hit an all-time high, even as the company faced familiar charges from vocal critics.

Walmart shares closed Tuesday at an all time high of $70.75, nearly 18% above the $59.97 level where they began the year and more than 46% above the 52-week low price of $48.31 seen late last summer. The move is nothing short of remarkable considering an investment in Walmart was dead money for the past dozen years as shares traded for a little more than $69 back in December 1999.

Neill Davis has resigned as CFO at Men’s Wearhouse.

The specialty retailer announced the departure of Davis and indicated he had accepted the position of president at women’s specialty retailer Francesca’s Holding where he has served as a director for the past five years.

Davis’ last day with Men’s Wearhouse will be Aug. 2, according to the company.

Throughout the retail industry and beyond, Walmart has earned a reputation as a leader in executing sustainable improvements that deliver positive results for consumers, communities and the company’s bottom line. Andrea Thomas, who joined Walmart in 2007, was appointed the company’s first senior VP sustainability in August 2010. Thomas talked with Chain Store Age contributing editor Connie Gentry about what sustainability means at Walmart and how the company leverages its scale to make the biggest possible impact for global good.

WOONSOCKET, R.I — CVS Caremark has been selected by the National Business Group on Health as a platinum winner for its 2012 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards. CVS Caremark's workforce well-being program was noted to be a role model for other companies striving to improve employee health, productivity and well-being.

The award was presented at the Business Group's Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C.

Dennis Cohen was named VP and general manager of the responsible sourcing unit of global product safety company Underwriters Laboratories.

Cohen spent the past 14 years at Office Depot, most recently serving as senior director of private brand operations and global sourcing. In that capacity, Cohen directed five departments and was responsible for the strategy development and operational execution of Office Depot’s $3.5 billion private brand business. He also served as director of supply chain transportation and logistics at Office Depot.

New York -- The campus store at Carnegie Mellon University has a new attraction: a small robot called AndyVision. Developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon’s Intel Science and Technology Center in Embedded Computing, the robot is designed to help keep track of store inventories and assist customers in finding products, according to a report on PCWorld.