Management

Gap has named former Gymboree CEO Mark Breitbard as the chief executive of its Banana Republic unit. This move comes at a time when the company is trying to bring the same levels of success its Old Navy brand is seeing to its Gap and Banana Republic segments. "We know what Banana Republic is capable…

Gary Schoenfeld, who served as CEO of Pacific Sunwear of California (PacSun) since 2009, is leaving the company and being replaced by James Gulmi on an interim basis. No reason was given for Schoenfeld’s departure. Gulmi, who has also been named to PacSun’s board, served as the CFO of footwear retailer Genesco Inc. from 1996…

Walgreens Boots Alliance named two executives to the chief marketing officer and chief merchandising officer positions, promoting Adam Holyk and Joe Hartsig, respectively, to those roles. Both will assume their new roles on April 1. Holyk and Hartsig will be replacing Linda Filler, Walgreens’ former president, retail products and chief merchandising and marketing officer, who…

Under Armour announced this week that Clay Dean will be joining the company as chief innovation officer. Dean will be responsible for the athletic retailer’s global strategy and collaboration between design, marketing, product and category management teams. Dean joins Under Armour from General Motors, where he spent more than 20 years and most recently led…

Fairway Market has quietly named Abel Porter, a supermarket veteran who had been a consultant to the company, to succeed Jack Murphy as CEO, according to reports. Murphy had been chief executive for the past two-and-a-half years, making it through two ownership turns and a bankruptcy. Porter worked for Smith Food and Drug in Utah…

Asda, the British supermarket owned by Wal-Mart, is offering staff in its stores a 14 percent rise in hourly pay if they sign a contract requiring more flexible work schedules. Britain's No. 3 supermarket said on Monday it will offer its 135,000 store staff a base rate of 8.50 pounds ($10.39) an hour from October, up…

At the risk of stating the obvious, when retailers first launch, they’re usually not able to expand their marketing team and solutions at the rate they might like. In the meantime, they assess their team and resources, and try to figure out how to fill the gaps. I’ve worked with marketing teams as large as…

Big Lots has terminated Andrew Stein as chief customer officer. Stein was hired in October 2013 to oversee marketing, advertising and brand development at the Columbus, Ohio-based discount and closeout retailer. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Big Lots said that Stein's employment had been terminated effective Friday. Total Retail's Take: Stein's firing comes…

Gander Mountain filed for bankruptcy Friday, and said it expects to attract a buyer as the company lowers its operating costs as part of its restructuring. The St. Paul, Minn.-based outdoor goods retailer also said it's closing 32 of its 162 stores in 26 states over the next several weeks. The company said it's in active discussions with several…

J.C. Penney is going to expand its home services by testing six new programs in 100 stores. Starting later this month, shoppers will see signs in J.C. Penney home departments and on its digital storefront for services in bathroom remodeling, home heating and cooling systems, quick-ship and installed blinds, whole home water solutions, awnings, and smart…