OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Deckers promotes counsel to COO
Goleta, Calif. - Deckers Brands has appointed David E. Lafitte to COO, effective Feb. 2. Lafitte previously served as the company's general counsel.

He replaces Zohar Ziv, who retired from the company on Jan. 16, 2015.

Lafitte has served as general counsel of Deckers since January 2012 and also was a shareholder in the law firm, Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth, P.C. where he was a member of the firm's board of directors and executive committee.
Report: Whole Foods Market to open six new stores in Chicago
New York -- Whole Foods Market plans to open six new locations in Chicago, four of which will open in May, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

The new stores will be located in former Dominick’s locations.

“We took the time to design and build a brand new store for each community that would offer not just a full-service grocery, but also a place to meet friends and share each other’s company,” said Michael Bashaw, president of Whole Foods Market’s Midwest Region, in a statement.

Lowe’s to hire 30,000 spring associates

Mooresville, N.C. - Lowe's Companies Inc. plans to hire approximately 30,000 seasonal employees at its stores in the U.S. during spring, which is typically the busiest time of year in the home improvement industry. Seasonal jobs are focused on customer service and include cashiers, lawn and garden employees, loaders, and stockers.
Report: Family of comedian killed in crash settles claim with Walmart

New York -- The family of James McNair, the comedian killed in the automobile accident that also seriously injured comedian Tracy Morgan, has reached a financial settlement with Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Reuters reported.

The out-of-court settlement is the first legal resolution from the crash, which occurred on June 7, 2014, on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Terms of the settlement were confidential, according to the report, and Walmart did not admit liability in the settlement.
NRF disappointed in Supreme Court refusal to review swipe fees

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) has publicly expressed disappointment at the U.S. Supreme Court’s announcement that it would not review an appellate court ruling on whether the Federal Reserve set a 2011 cap on debit card swipe fees higher than the level sought by Congress in legislation passed the year before.
Sears Canada reaches out to Target Canadian employees

Toronto – Sears Canada is reaching out to Target’s Canadian employees. The retailer is encouraging the 17,600 workers who will likely lose their jobs when Target exits the Canadian market later this year to apply for jobs online.

Sears Canada also plans to host job fairs for soon-to-be-laid-off Target employees across Canada, and will host a meet-and-greet for Target Canada head office employees with senior executives and HR experts at its corporate headquarters on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Wal-Mart shuffles senior executives; announces departures

Bentonville, Ark. - The restructuring of Wal-Mart’s senior executive ranks continues with the latest round of appointments involving some familiar leaders in new roles with curious titles, as well as some key resignations.
Report: Home Depot has until July to respond to data breach law suits

New York -- The Home Depot has been given until July to respond to allegations that its data breach occurred because the retailer did not meet its obligation to comply with security standards and to protect its customers' personal information, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

At a hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash gave Home Depot until July 1 and July 15, respectively, to respond to the allegations of consumers and financial institutions.
Barnes & Noble retail group CEO to retire; will serve as real estate advisor

New York -- Barnes & Noble announced that Mitchell Klipper, CEO of the retail group, will retire at the end of the fiscal year, ending May 2, but will remain with the company in the role of special advisor on real estate and other matters. Klipper, a 28-year veteran of the chain, previously served as the retailer’s COO and CFO before being appointed chief executive.

The retailer said it has begun a search to fill Klipper’s position and that he will help with the selection of the new retail CEO and in the transition process.
Top execs from Target, Walgreens, Cabela’s join RILA board

New York -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced that top executives from Target, Walgreens and Cabela’s have joined the association’s board of directors.

RILA announced four new members of its board, including Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell, Walgreens president Alexander Gourlay, Cabela’s president and CEO Thomas Millner and Newell Rubbermaid president and CEO Michael Polk.