DATATRAC

Personnel Updates

• Advance Auto Parts Inc. has appointed Thomas Okray as Exec VP, CFO, succeeding Mike Norona.

• Brookstone Inc. announced Steven Goldsmith as its new CEO. He replaces Tom Via.

• Jo-Ann Stores Inc. announced Sharyn Hejcl has been promoted to Exec VP, Chief Merchandising Officer.

• Overstock.com has named former Walmart Stores Inc.’s VP, Vidya Jwala, as Senior VP of Demand Fulfillment. He will be responsible for overseeing the company’s sourcing, merchandising, supply chain and customer-care businesses.

• Petco Animal Supplies Inc. has named John Zavada as its new CIO. The company also announced its longtime Chairman and CEO, Jim Myers, is retiring effective February 1, 2017. Petco’s President and Chief Merchant, Brad Weston, will succeed Mr. Myers as CEO.

• Staples Inc. named interim CEO Shira Goodman to the position on a permanent basis.

• Target Corporation announced its Chief Digital Officer, Jason Goldberger, has left the company and that Michael McNamara has been promoted to Chief Information and Digital Officer.

• Tiffany & Co. announced it has hired Mark Erceg to become its next Exec VP and CFO.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Office Depot Inc. agreed to sell its European business to the Aurelius Group.

Industry Insight

• Amazon.com Inc. announced it is planning the launch of new physical grocery stores to accompany its online food delivery services. The locations will allow customers to pick up groceries pre-ordered online. The company has also announced plans to introduce physical stores for the sale of books, e-readers, and other products.

• Costco Wholesale Corp. recently announced it will open seven new stores in Canada in fiscal 2017.

• Kmart Corporation has introduced its new “Whole Lotta Awesome” store concept with a new location in Des Plaines, IL. Store upgrades include a Happy to Help counter, as well as an updated pharmacy with onsite wellness experts.

• Office Depot Inc. recently opened its first “Store of the Future” in Carson City, NV.

Real Estate

• Century 21 Department Stores Inc. is opening a 140,000 sq. ft. store in Brooklyn, NY.

• Kmart Corporation announced it is closing another 64 stores.

• Walmart Stores Inc. said that it plans to significantly slow its efforts to open new U.S. stores, and focus more on online sales. The retailer will open about 35 supercenters next year, and just 20 Neighborhood Markets.