Office Depot

For the second year in a row, Office Depot was recognized in Newsweek magazine’s annual “Green Rankings” as the greenest large retailer in the U.S. Across all industry sectors, Office Depot was ranked as the U.S.' 8th greenest large company, a move up of 10 spots from last year, and was the only retailer in the U.S. Top 10 list.

Office Depot announced the release of a new Android app designed specifically for its business account customers. The Office Depot Business Solutions mobile application is now available for free download on the Android Market.

In the retail category, the office supply company holds the top three slots in the contest, posting average energy savings of $5,700 per store.

Cardboard boxes are out as part of Office Depot’s GreenerOffice Delivery Service. Customers will now receive supplies in paper bags protected during transportation in reusable plastic totes.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) announced that Charlie Brown, President, International Division, is leaving the organization effective today. “Charlie Brown was terminated for having an improper relationship with another associate,” said Neil Austrian, Office Depot’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The company has a zero tolerance policy in this regard. Our business leadership in Europe and Asia will now report to me, and Mike Newman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will assume responsibility for our joint venture with Office Depot de Mexico as well as our overall Latin American development.” About Office Depot

Irvine, Calif. -- Pet retailer Passionate Pets said Thursday it has named Keith Martin, former senior VP operations at Petco, to its board of directors. The company also named Todd Peterson, CPA at KSNE2 Enterprises, to the board. The company is preparing for an IPO and, according to its president and CEO John Dunn, who worked with Martin at both Petco and Office Depot, the pair is expected to help lead Passionate Pet through the IPO stage.

Office Depot is expanding into the Caribbean as part of its franchise agreement with Benmore International. The company has opened a store in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It plans to open three additional locations in the Dominican Republic in 2012.

Office Depot has launched a national back-to-school mobile campaign that was developed by Momentum, using SpyderLynk’s 2-D mobile barcode SnapTag technology.

Office Depot announced the release of a new iPhone app designed specifically for its contract customers. The Office Depot Business Solutions mobile application has been specifically designed to bring the brand’s B-to-B website to procurement and administrative professionals within a smartphone device.

It’s no secret that U.S. retail sales collapsed in 2008 and 2009 because of the recession. But several of the largest retailers consistently performed poorly between 2005 and 2010 for reasons that go beyond the recession.