From the Calgary Herald | Potash Corp. announced Monday it will boost its head office contingent in Saskatoon from 209 employees to 300 by the end of 2013 as part of its “pledge to Saskatchewan.”
Filed under: Chicago executives
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Citadel hires CEO of New York’s Chapdelaine & Co.
From Bloomberg News | Chicago-based firm Citadel LLC has hired the CEO of New York-based bond broker Chapdelaine & Co. and plans to add about 30 employees from Chapdelaine’s defunct credit unit.
Allstate rates rise; patience with execs runs thin
Allstate CEO Tom Wilson in 2008. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)
The average homeowners’ premium for Allstate Corp. customers rose by 7.1 percent in 2010, and Chief Executive Tom Wilson said Thursday that “you should expect to see it go up” in 2011 as well.
Wilson made the remark during an hour-long conference call with analysts and investors. He discussed the Northbrook-based auto and home insurer’s fourth-quarter results, which fell short of expectations. On a day when the wider markets were basically flat, Allstate stock closed down 3.6 percent to $31.20 a share, making it the day’s worst local stock performer.
Some analysts are becoming increasingly frustrated with Allstate’s management. Get the full story »
McDonald’s communications chief dead at 62
Jack Daly
Jack Daly, chief communications officer for McDonald’s Corp., died Saturday morning after a battle with cancer. He was 62.
“Through the depth of his thinking and strength of his insights, Jack helped guide McDonald’s through some of our greatest successes and most difficult challenges, always with humility, calmness and grace,” McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner said in a statement.
A company veteran with nearly 20 years at the Oak Brook-based fast food giant, Daly oversaw the global public relations function.
Get the full story »
Jamie Dimon wants some R-E-S-P-E-C-T
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in Davos. (AP)
What’s eating Jamie Dimon? At last week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the JPMorgan Chase chief executive once again lambasted the media and politicians for portraying all bankers as greedy evil-doers.
It was at least the 12th time since the start of the financial crisis that Dimon has complained about Wall Street critics painting all bankers as cut from the same cloth. But the timing of his latest outburst seemed odd. Get the full story »
Sears chooses new head of major business unit
Sears Holdings Corp. has named company executive Scott Freidheim executive vice president and president for Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard — key brands for the retailer. The move comes after several other key personnel announcements at Hoffman Estates-based Sears, including a new chief of home fashions and another for grocery and pharmacy. Get the full story »
Underperforming Gap makes change at top
Impatient over the slow pace of its sales recovery, Gap Inc. said the head of Gap North America will step down, as the apparel brand tries to reinvigorate its merchandise and flagging stock price.
Marka Hansen, president of Gap North America since 2007, is leaving Feb. 4, and will be replaced by an insider to be named soon, Gap said Tuesday. Get the full story »
Jan. 28 at 4:58 p.m.
Filed under: Beverages, Chicago executives, Food, Packaged foods, Personnel moves, Updated Sara Lee announces plans to split in 2; stock drops
Sara Lee desserts in a grocer's freezer. (AP)
Downers Grove-based food maker Sara Lee announced Friday that it will divide itself two publicly-traded companies. The plan, which has been approved by Sara Lee’s board, divides the company into North American and European divisions. One company will focus on North American grocery and supplying products to the restaurant industry, and the other on European coffee, tea and bread.
In a call with investors, Marcel Smits, the company’s newly-appointed CEO, acknowledged that Sara Lee had received “unsolicited interest” in buying the company. He said that after a rigorous review, the company’s board determined that splitting the company was in shareholders’ best interest, adding that the individual companies are likely to do better on their own.
Sara Lee will issue a $3 special dividend to shareholders as part of the split. Get the full story »
Jewel-Osco president to retire
Jewel-Osco’s president for the past four years has announced plans to retire, and parent company Supervalu Inc. is sending an executive from its Eden Prairie, Minn., headquarters to replace him.
The change in leadership comes at a time when Supervalu is struggling to remain competitive against rivals like Wal-Mart, Target and even drugstore chains that have greatly expanded their selection of grocery items.
Keith Nielsen, who started working at Jewel more than 40 years ago as a grocery store clerk, will retire, effective Feb. 28. Succeeding him will be Brian Huff, currently senior vice president of specialty retail at Supervalu, who will join Itasca-based Jewel on Feb. 7. Get the full story »
Zell tells Forbes he won’t miss Tribune Co.
Tower Ticker | The same day Tribune Co. reported an uptick in its business during 2010, Forbes Magazine posted an interview with Chairman Sam Zell in which the entrepreneur once more made it clear he won’t be sorry to say farewell to the Chicago-based media concern.
Sears snaps up Kohl’s exec to head home fashions
Sears Holdings Corp. has hired Kohl’s executive Chris Capuano as senior vice president and president of home fashions.
She is taking over the top home goods post from Douglas Wurl, vice president and general merchandise manager of home fashions, who is leaving the company. Get the full story »
Jan. 27 at 2:20 p.m.
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Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Chicago executives, Food, Personnel moves, Restaurants McDonald’s names new global brand chief
McDonald’s Corp. has named Kevin Newell executive vice president and global chief brand officer. He was previously senior vice president and restaurant support officer for McDonald’s USA, West Division. Get the full story »
