Retail Merchants group has new president
Sheri Sakamoto has been named president of Retail Merchants of Hawaii, a nonprofit trade organization, succeeding longtime President Carol Pregill, who has retired.
Additionally, Mark Storfer, Hilo Hattie executive vice president and chief operating officer, has been named chairman of the RMH board of directors, following the retirement of Gayle Yamada.
Sakamoto assumes leadership of RMH as the organization hosts Hawaii Fashion Month, now underway, as well as its own annual awards luncheon gala on Oct. 24.
The Hookela Awards honor excellence in Hawaii retailing and will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
Sakamoto established communications firm E&S Partners LLC in 2004, has worked with the County of Los Angeles in developing public policy, and has been a member of the Hawaii State Judicial Selection Commission. Among priorities Sakamoto and Storfer have set are to prepare for the legislative session, increase RMH membership, develop educational programs and create social media strategies.
Hawaii Pacific Health drive earns $671,162
Hawaii Pacific Health’s employees have raised $671,161.89 through the nonprofit’s annual Employee Giving Campaign.
The money raised by more than 502 campaign volunteers and 4,007 employee donors will stay in Hawaii to help fund unreimbursed services provided at each of Hawaii Pacific Health’s nonprofit hospitals and clinics (Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Clinic & Hospital and Wilcox Memorial Hospital) and support community partners Aloha and Kauai United Way.
In fiscal year 2012 Hawaii Pacific Health provided more than $155 million in unreimbursed services.
Kona Brewing Co. picks mainland ad firm
San Francisco-based Duncan/Channon has been chosen by Kona Brewing Co. as its advertising agency of record.
Hawaii-founded Kona Brewing was purchased in 2010 by publicly traded Craft Brewers Alliance Inc. Its flagship brewery remains in Kailua-Kona, but the brews also are made and bottled in Oregon, Washington state and New Hampshire.
At the time of its acquisition, Kona Brewing was the 23rd-largest beer company in the United States, though among craft brewers it was the 13th largest.
Walgreen’s net income soars 86 percent
Walgreen Co.’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings soared 86 percent as the nation’s largest drugstore chain booked a large inventory-related gain and benefited from its acquisition of a stake in European health and beauty retailer Alliance Boots.
The Deerfield, Ill., company said Tuesday that it filled more prescriptions in this year’s fourth quarter and saw some improvement outside the pharmacy.
It also reaped a greater benefit than expected from its combination with European health and beauty retailer Alliance Boots, the largest drugstore chain in the United Kingdom. Walgreen bought a 45 percent stake in that company last year and has an option to buy the rest in 2015.
Overall, Walgreen earned $657 million, or 69 cents a share, in the quarter that ended Aug. 31. That compares with earnings of $353 million, or 39 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue climbed 5 percent to $17.94 billion.
ON THE MOVE
Atlantis Adventures has appointed Samira Klicic general manager of Atlantis Navatek Cruises. She has 10 years of restaurant and bar management experience in New York and Honolulu, including serving as general manager for Cold Stone Creamery on Kalakaua Avenue and operations manager for Banyan Tree.
PacificBasin Communications has named Sharon Spear publisher of HAWAI‘I and MANA magazines. She has nearly 10 years of media experience and was previously an interim publisher as well as associate publisher and advertising director for HAWAI‘I Magazine.
Bennet Group Strategic Communications promoted and hired the following:
» Monica Salter to senior vice president from director.
» Andrea Lum to senior account manager from senior account executive.
» Emma Wo to account executive from account coordinator.
» Megan Tsuchida to account executive from account coordinator.
» Rachel Ross and Christine Matsuda Smith joined the firm as directors.
