Management

The right hire can bring a team together, strengthen a division and help the CEO focus on growing the business as opposed to running the business. CEOs have been mostly concerned about how the tough economic conditions are affecting profitability. They're now looking at other issues such as recruiting and staffing to help grow their company as things hopefully continue on an upswing.

After a decade at the helm of Target's marketing, Michael Francis is leaving the company to join J.C. Penney. Francis will join J.C. Penney as president, effective immediately.

Perry Ellis announced the appointment and return of Doug Jakubowski as chief merchandising officer for the Perry Ellis brand. Jakubowski, who previously held several executive-level positions with both Salant Corporation and Perry Ellis International, returns to Perry Ellis to guide the product strategy for the Perry Ellis brand from design conception to product assortment to its final presentation in stores.

Lands' End announced the promotion of Tim Martin to chief operating officer and chief financial officer and Chris Kolbe to brand president. Martin most recently served as senior vice president, chief financial officer. Kolbe most recently served as chief merchandising and design officer for Lands' End.

No doubt, a key objective for retailers today is to influence shopper decisions across all selling channels. Sales and marketing campaigns that use mobility stand to gain the most when they integrate with both online and in-store shopping tools. The more channels the customer is exposed to, the greater the chance for cross-selling successes.

A second email exchange has emerged between a disgruntled shopper and Gasp, the Australian clothing store that's made headlines worldwide with its unique approach to customer service.

The traditional digital management industry has been providing solutions to the retail marketing industry for years, but those solutions have been too expensive for most and quite limiting in nature for many. Over the last 12 months, however, the cloud has created an entirely new digital asset management solution.

Australian clothing store Gasp Jeans has become a total joke thanks to its completely idiotic way of handling a recent customer service complaint. Companies wishing to alienate the public, take note!

Wal-Mart has named David Cheesewright executive vice president, president and chief executive officer of a new regional management team that will oversee retail operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa and business development in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada.

Family Dollar has named longtime CVS pharmacy executive Mike Bloom as its new president and chief operating officer to replace the departing R. James Kelly, who announced his retirement on Sept. 27 after 15 years with the company.