OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

DirectBuy names new executive team
Merrillville, Ind. -- DirectBuy, the membership-based buying organization that enables consumers to purchase from manufacturers and suppliers without retail markup, has named a new executive leadership team. This new team is led by new CEO Mike Bornhorst, who comes to DirectBuy after spending time in leadership positions with companies such as ADT and Culligan Water.
Signet Jewelers CEO resigns; names COO Mark Light as new chief
Hamilton, Bermuda –- In a surprise announcement, Signet Jewelers Ltd., the largest jewelry retailer in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, said that its president and COO, Mark Light, will take over as CEO on Nov. 1. He will replace Signet’s current chief, Michael Barnes, who is resigning from his position and from Signet's board of directors to "pursue opportunities closer to his home in Dallas," effective Oct. 31.

Quiksilver makes changes to senior leadership

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Quiksilver announced that Bob McKnight will retire as a senior executive of the company on Oct. 31, 2014. He will remain a director. The teen retailer also said CEO Andy Mooney has been elected chairman and Pierre Agnes has been promoted to president of Quiksilver, effective Nov. 1, 2014.
Kmart hit by data breach

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Kmart is the latest retailer to be hit by a payment data breach. The breach was discovered last Thursday by the chain’s information technology team, and the company immediately launched an investigation with a leading security firm, according to Kmart’s parent company, Sears Holdings Corp.
J.C. Penney names Home Depot VP of stores as president and next CEO

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney on Monday appointed Marvin Ellison president and CEO-designee, effective Nov. 1. Ellison, executive VP of stores for Home Depot, will also join the company’s board of directors.

Ellison, 49, will succeed Mike Ullman, III, as CEO of Penney on Aug. 1, 2015, when Ullman will become executive chairman of the board for one year.
Experts weigh in on Kmart breach

New York -- The news of the recent security breach at Kmart stores generated lots of comments from security experts. Here is a roundup:
Operationalizing Better Assortment Practices

By Steven Pinder, Tom White and Kurt Kendall Retailers are being squeezed by growing consumer individualism, globalization and evolving preferences. These pan-industry pressure points are causing a proliferation of SKUs that retailers must now nimbly administer. And with online competition eating into already-low margins, the challenge for brick-and-mortar retailers is clear: Find a better way to manage assortment practices.
NRF: Imports to surge before holidays

Washington, D.C. - Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to see a final surge and set a new monthly record in October as the holiday season approaches. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, import volume at U.S. ports covered by the Global Port Tracker report is expected to total 1.53 million containers in October, topping the 1.52 million monthly record set in August.
Survey: Retailers disappoint consumers with online services

London - Online retailers provide delivery options shoppers don’t want, and don’t offer the ones they do. According to new research from software company OrderDynamics and Opinion Matters, more than half of online shoppers (54%) want a named delivery date, but only 15% of retailers currently offer it.
UPS to expand home package deliveries

Atlanta -- United Parcel Service Inc. said it will expand UPS My Choice and the UPS Access Point network, two of the company’s services that work together to provide online shoppers and global retailers with new personalized solutions to manage residential package deliveries.

UPS My Choice, the customizable online and mobile service where consumers choose delivery preferences and more, will now be available to consumers in 15 additional countries throughout North America and Europe. The service was introduced in the U.S. in 2011.