OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Niwot, Colo. -- Former Wal-Mart executive Greg Sullivan has been appointed general manager of Crocs' Americas region, which includes all of North America, Central America and South America. In this role, Sullivan will be responsible for managing the region's day-to-day operations, including overseeing sales, marketing, finance and human resources functions, as well as the region's wholesale, Internet and direct-to-consumer channels.

Rogers, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores is focused on near-term execution to grow its same-store U.S. sales, improve returns in Walmart International and leverage expenses for the full year, company president and CEO Mike Duke said Tuesday at the company’s 20th annual meeting for the investment community.
    

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. is opening of a new store in Greenville, S.C. on October 17. As of May 18, 2013, DSW operates 377 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as 348 leased departments for other retailers in the U.S. under the Affiliated Business Group.

Broomfield, Colo. -- Famous Brands International, the parent company of TCBY Yogurt and Mrs. Fields Cookies, has appointed David Bloom to the position of senior VP of strategic development, effective immediately. Bloom has been serving as the chief development officer for Hurricane Grill & Wings since June 2012.

Famous Brands also announced the following promotions: Dustin Finkel to VP of marketing; Belinda Oakley to VP of operations; and Cassie Alvey to VP of Mrs. Fields gifting.

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Another deadly fire has reportedly hit a garment factory in Bangladesh. According to Bloomberg, an Oct. 8 blaze at a garment factory near the Bangladesh capital city of Dhaka killed 10 workers and injured more than 50.

New York -- Tractor Supply CEO Greg Sandfort outlined the company's online strategy, borrowing phrases from other multichannel retailers.

“We have to have our site geared to giving customers the options for any way they like to engage with us,” Sandfort said during the recent Goldman Sachs investor conference.

West Chester, Pa. - Dr. Ulrich Flatten will retire as CEO, QVC Germany at the end of the year, after 12 years of service to the company. Under his leadership, Germany has developed into QVC's largest European business and its second largest business outside of the United States.

Dayton, Ohio -- Retail design and brand strategy firm Interbrand Design Forum has added nine new associates as business continues to grow with key retail and manufacturing  clients.
 
Allen McCormick has been named executive director, overseeing relationships with key client partners. Becky Lau was hired as senior consultant, strategy and analytics. Aaron Stancik is also new to the Strategy & Analytics group where he will serve as a senior consultant working on projects for Michael Hill and FedEx.