Personnel Updates:

Advance Auto Parts has appointed David Allen as Senior VP Supply Chain Management.

Amazon announced that operations executive Jeff Helms has left the company to join same-day delivery start-up Deliv as head of delivery operations.

Bridgestone Retail Operations announced that Damien Harmon, former VP of category and merchandising operations at Best Buy, recently joined Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) as VP of Operations to oversee and newly restructured operations group. Amy Bonder joined BSRO as VP of Sales after previously serving as VP of commercial sales for strategic accounts with Advance Auto Parts.

Dollar General announced that chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling has announced plans to retire next year, initiating a search internally and externally for a successor.  Dreiling advised Dollar General of his intent to retire as CEO effective May 30, 2015 or upon the appointment of a successor. Following the appointment of a new CEO, which could happen sooner than next year, Dreiling agreed to serve at the discretion of the board of directors as chairman during a transition period following the appointment of the new CEO. Dreiling’s retirement date and any agreement regarding continued service on the board are expected to be finalized as part of a retirement agreement, according to the company.

Dollar Tree has appointed former Tractor Supply executive Randy Guiler as VP of Investor Relations. Guiler succeeds Timothy Reid, who is retiring.

Family Dollar has promoted Jeffrey Thomas to the position of Senior VP of Merchandise Operations at as the retailer looks to reignite sales under the leadership of Chief Merchandising Officer Jason Reiser.

Five Below announced that Exec VP of Merchandising, Jeffrey Moore has resigned.

Gordmans Stores has named Amy Starr Myers to the role of Seniior VP of Marketing and Stacey Townsend was named VP and General Manager of e-commerce to launch Gordman’s online sales effort.  Myers most recently served as VP of Marketing and Creative Services at Things Remembered   Townsend joins Gordmans from Interline Brands

HSN has promoted longtime executive Bill Brand to President.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has hired Paul G. Martino as VP and Senior Policy Counsel, and has promoted Beth Provenzano to VP for Federal Government Relations.

Office Depot announced that Mark Cosby has been named President of the company’s North American business.

PetSmart has named Phil Bowman as Exec VP of Customer Experience.

Target has added three new external senior-level hires, who will have responsibility for leading teams across information technology, e-commerce and digital products.

Jim Fisher joins the company as Senior VP Infrastructure and Operations, Target Technology Services, where he will oversee technical infrastructure and operations.

Alan Wizemann joins Target as VP Target.com and mobile product, where he will oversee digital product teams.

David Weissman joins the company as President of DermStore, based in El Segundo, California, which Target acquired last year.

The company has also brought on board a number of senior-level executives, including Brad Maiorino, Senior VP and Chief Information Security Officer; Peter Glusker, Senior VP New Business Integration and Operations; and Kristi Argyilan, Senior VP Media and Guest Engagement.

Toy’s “R” Us has named Michael Short as the company’s new CFO. He replaces Clay Creasey who left the company after eight years.

ValueVision Media, a multichannel electronic retailer operating as ShopHQ via TV, Internet and mobile, has named Mark Bozek as CEO. Bozek succeeds Keith Stewart, who has resigned as CEO and as a director of the company.

Walmart announced that several of Walmart’s top merchants are in new roles following a realignment of responsibilities designed to recognize customers’ needs and serve them more efficiently.  First is the elevation of Scott Huff to the role of Exec VP of Merchandising Operations from his prior position as Senior VP of Consumables.  In his new role, Huff is responsible for merchandising execution, replenishment, store layout, supplier diversity, planning, pricing, modular development and joint business planning. Working closely with Huff will be Scott Pleiman who was named Senior VP of planning, pricing, modular development and joint business planning.

Assuming Huff’s prior responsibilities as Senior VP of consumables, but in an Exec VP capacity is Michelle Gloeckler. She was named Exec VP of consumables and U.S. manufacturing after previously serving as Senior VP of home and overseeing the retailer’s expanding domestic sourcing initiative.

Another key Exec VP move involved John Aden to the newly created role of Exec VP of sales innovation. He is tasked with identifying new and disruptive service and product offerings.  Aden had previously served as Exec VP of Merchandise Services and Exec VP of GM prior to that.

Walmart’s Global Customer and Insights and Analytics group, led by Exec VP Cindy Davis, appointed Matt Kistler to the new role of Senior VP of Walmart U.S. consumer insights. He will report to Davis and Walmart U.S. chief marketing officer Stephen Quinn.

Other key changes included the following:

In the grocery area, Ashley Buchanan was appointed Senior VP of Dry Grocery after previously leading Walmart’s sizable snacks and beverage division and prior to that Walmart’s innovations team. Promoted to Buchanan’s role was Latriece Watkins who was named Senior VP of Snacks and Beverages after previously serving as VP of Adult Beverages, a category that experienced dramatic growth under her leadership. Reporting to Watkins in a new role as VP of Adult Beverages is Silvia Azrai Kawas. The group will report to Jack Sinclair, Walmart’s Exec VP of Food.

In the softline area, the promotion of Gloecker resulted in the promotion of Marybeth Cornwell to the role of Senior VP reporting to Andy Barron, Exec VP of Softlines for Walmart U.S.  Cornwell previously served as Senior VP of Home and Apparel for Sam’s Club. In a related softlines move, Deanah Baker was named Senior VP of Apparel and Ladieswear, Intimates, Jewelry and Accessories. Diana Marshall was named VP of Baby, a huge business at Walmart, after previously holding merchandising roles in the housewares, home, hardware and paint businesses.

In the hardlines and health and wellness areas, Walmart named former Lowe’s and Hechinger Co., merchant to the role of VP of Hardware and Paint. In health and wellness, Mark Phillips was named VP of Pharmaceutical Merchandising after previously serving as Senior Director of Merchandising for small formats.

Walmart announced that Greg Foran has been promoted to President and CEO of Walmart U.S. Foran succeeds Bill Simon who has been in the role since June 2010 and will be transitioning out of the company. Foran will assume his responsibilities on August 9 and will report directly to Walmart President and CEO, Doug McMillon.

Walmart announced that Mark Phillips has been elevated to the role of VP of Pharmaceutical Merchandising.

Walmart has named Dirk Van den Berghe as President and CEO of Walmart Canada, as the retailer eyes long-term growth opportunities including the development of small stores.  Van den Berghe fills the position recently vacated by Shelley Broader when she was promoted to the position of President, CEO of Walmart EMEA (International).

Williams-Sonoma has appointed Ronald R. Young Senior VP, Global Operations, as part of its strategy to grow the brand outside the United States.

Financial Focus:

Barnes & Noble, Inc. reported sales for its fiscal 2014 full-year ended May 3, 2014.  Annual revenues were reported at $6,381.3 billion, down from the previous year’s $6,839 billion, a decrease of 6.7%.

Industry Insight:

The Container Store has launched POP! — its customer engagement program of Perfectly Organized Perks — in its 66 existing stores and on its website.

Garden Ridge plans to open 13 new stores this year.