Management

Store workers at Zara, the flagship brand of Inditex, the world’s largest fashion retailer, have voted to form a union in New York City. The Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) will represent the more than 1,000 Zara employees, who greet customers, stock shelves, run fitting rooms and handle sales at the brand’s Manhattan-based stores.…

Robert Riesbeck is the new chief executive at hhgregg. Riesbeck, who joined the chain in 2014 as chief financial officer, stepped in as interim president/CEO after Dennis May stepped down in February, and soon made it clear he was a contender for the permanent spot. He will continue to serve as chief financial officer until a successor…

Since Mike McNamara became Target's chief information officer last June, he's ushered in a completely new direction for the retailer's IT department. When he joined, McNamara focused on what he believed were the company's weaknesses: too much outsourced tech talent; unstable systems; and too many projects on the docket. Soon after, he began putting his plan…

Some major changes are happening at GNC. The heath and nutrition products retailer unexpectedly replaced its chief executive and halted its stock buyback program this week, due to weak second-quarter sales and profit. Michael Archbold was hired two years ago to help reverse GNC's downturn, but was unable to deliver. Robert Moran, GNC board member…

File this one under the bizarre files. Sports Authority wants to pay its top executives millions of dollars in bonuses while the retailer is going out of business. Once an operator of 460 athletic gear outlets, Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy protection and began going-out-of-business sales in an effort to pay its debts. As the liquidation…

Target is taking a new approach to help veteran employees stay up-to-date with technology, social media and marketplace trends. Younger Millennial workers are "reverse mentoring" the baby boomer company leaders.

In a move that signals Starbucks’ increasing emphasis on the high end of the coffee market, Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz is stepping back from some of the more day-to-day operations of the coffee chain to focus on long-term global strategy and innovation. Starting Sept. 1, his priorities will be on Starbucks’ higher-end businesses, including the…

Starbucks announced sweeping changes to its benefits program Monday that will allow U.S. employees to choose from up to six different medical insurance providers instead of one. The company estimates the new options could save individual employees up to $800 a year by being able to choose a more customized plan. Employees who work 20 hours a…

Overstock.com announced Friday that Stormy Simon will be resigning as the company’s president to pursue other opportunities, effective no later than July 25. Simon will remain a member of Overstock.com’s board of directors until no later than Sept. 30. Her duties will be divided amongst Acting CEO Mitch Edwards, Chief Revenue Officer Saum Noursalehi, and…

This episode of Women in Retail Talks features an interview with Jan Singer, the former CEO of Spanx and soon-to-be-CEO of Victoria’s Secret. (Women in Retail Leadership Circle is a sister publication of Total Retail.) Jan discusses a variety of issues around life and leadership, including how being a psychology major has helped in her…