The acquisition of DemandTec is expected to extend IBM's Smarter Commerce initiative by adding cloud-based price, promotion and other merchandising and marketing analytics. At the same time, the deal is in line with a trend across many industries wherein the lines between merchandising, marketing, commerce and supply chain are blurring.
Irene Rosenfeld will lead the global snacks company as Chairman and CEO. Meanwhile, a CEO and Chairman have been named for the North American grocery company.
The move, by Sara Lee and its Norwegian joint venture partner Kaffehuset Friele, is expected to strengthen the partners' out-of-home business in Norway and Denmark.
Robert Stockton has been a key architect behind Mattel's rapid international growth and also helped shape many of the company's recent growth initiatives.
With the addition of this MeadWestvaco Corporations Consumer & Office Products business, ACCO Brands increases its scale and strengthens its position as an industry leader in school and office products.
The candidate worked at companies such as Procter & Gamble and Pet Incorporated, and was voted by Advertising Age as one of the Top 100 Advertising People in 1991.
