Management

They spend hours each week touting favorite products, sharing home improvement tips and answering questions about everything from installing ceramic tile to venting a mircrowave. The Home Depot's social media store associates are part of a new hybrid group that spends two days each week managing the retailer's how-to community and creating content for use across the company. 

Brown Shoe Co., which operates Famous Footwear Stores, said it's named Diane M. Sullivan president and CEO. The company announced in January that it had promoted Sullivan, its president and COO.

Sears announced that Sam Solomon has joined the company as senior vice president and president of its tools business. Solomon is responsible for developing and driving growth and profit opportunities for one of the company's cornerstone businesses, the company reported.

Lowe’s announced plans to hire up to 300 information technology professionals, including 150 new positions. The company reported that positions are now open across all IT professions, including business analysis, engineering, communications network, e-commerce, application development, program management and project management.

Gap said Chief Design Director Patrick Robinson is leaving the company effective immediately. Robinson had been executive vice president of Gap global design for adult and body for four years. The company said it will conduct a search for a successor.

If you had better salespeople, would your organization have better results? While improving the caliber of your salespeople isn't an overnight fix, it ultimately starts somewhere. Here are a few ideas to help you lead your team to better results:

Crocs beat quarterly estimates as its colorful plastic clogs sold well, but its second-quarter forecast fell short of market expectations. The company also named Jeff Lasher as its new chief financial officer. Lasher was Crocs' principal accounting officer and interim principal financial officer since January 2011.

Levi's has named Walker MacWilliam as its new global head of men's design. MacWilliam will be responsible for the design and development of all Levi's men's product categories globally. MacWilliam joins Levi Strauss & Co. from Coach, where his responsibilities included the conceptualization, design and development for all categories of men's and women's including wearables, bags and accessories.

We all like to have our own ideas reinforced; it's difficult to hear the cold, hard facts. Like successful leaders and managers who are willing to speak up and be heard, I've identified 10 things company presidents don't like to hear. As good managers, it's your responsibility to speak the truth. So here goes:

Destination Maternity announced the hiring of Chris Daniel as its president, effective June 1. Daniel will report directly to Ed Krell, CEO, and will have responsibility for all merchandising, design, marketing, visual, sourcing and branding functions of the company.