OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Austin, Texas – Digital coupon provider RetailMeNot, Inc. has named Gokul Rajaram to its board of directors, effective Oct. 15. Rajaram is currently product engineering lead at Square, where he leads software development for Square Register, a full point-of-sale system for local businesses, and other products.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is enlisting Jonna Mendez, a former CIA officer and mom who will serve as a “Kids’ Gift Detective.” Inspired by her years of CIA experience, Mendez will offer online tips and techniques via a video series at ABullseyeView.com where she works with popular mom bloggers.

In addition, Target will offer a dedicated kids’ gifts page on its website and will launch a digital gift catalog in early November.

New York -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and J.C. Penney Co. on Monday announced a revised commercial agreement covering their licensing and design partnership. The new agreement scales back Penney’s partnership with Martha Stewart Living.
    
It was not clear how, if at all, the revised agreement could affect the companies’ ongoing lawsuit with Macy’s.
    

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney joined the list of retail chains that plan to open their stores on Thanksgiving night to kick off the holiday shopping season.  

Penney will open most of its 1,100 stores at 8 p.m., the same as Macy's. Last year, Penney opened its stores at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, while rivals Macy’s and Kohl’s opened their doors at midnight.

New York -- Specialty beverage retailer BevMo! Named Douglas J. Ratto as executive VP, chief merchant. Ratto will lead the buying, planning, allocations and distribution teams at BevMo!

Ratto comes to BevMo! with more than 25 years of retail and marketing management experience. Since 2010, Doug served at Safeway as senior VP, GM of alcohol/tobacco, home care/general merchandise & family care.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports announced that effective February 2, 2014, Mickey Newsome will transition from his current position as executive chairman and employee of the company to non-executive chairman.

The retailer also announced that Jeff Rosenthal, president and CEO, has been appointed to the board of directors, effective immediately, thereby increasing the size of the board to ten members.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is reportedly testing a “hands-on” electronics department with a minimalist format that harkens back to Apple stores and brightly lit displays that encourage shoppers to try out sample consumer electronics products. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Target is testing the concept at stores in Brooklyn Park, Mankato, Ridgedale and the Quarry location in Minneapolis, as well as outside Minnesota.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. named  Michael L. Ellis, senior VP of retail divisions, as president COO effective January 1, 2014, completing the succession plan announced in September.

In September, Kroger announced that chairman and CEO David B. Dillon will retire as CEO on January 1, 2014, and will continue to serve as chairman through December 31, 2014. He will be succeeded by W. Rodney McMullen, Kroger's president and CO, effective January 1, 2014.