In Brief

MURRAY MOVES UP: Talbots has promoted Cynthia Murray to the new position of senior vice president of merchandising. She was vice president and general merchandise manager for misses’ and petites. In her new role, Murray still supervises those businesses, but also oversees merchandising for large sizes, accessories and shoes. She continues to report to James Metscher, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Murray joined Talbots in 1998, and has 20 years experience in specialty retailing, including jobs at Carroll Reed, Harold’s, Britches of Georgetown and Saks Fifth Avenue.

THE MARSHALL PLAN: Marshall Field’s, a division of Target Corp., will eliminate the full-time positions of 200 employees who stock shelves and unload merchandise, according to published reports. The employees affected by the layoffs will be offered part-time work or severance. The 64-unit division employs approximately 32,000 and has been underperforming the corporation’s Target and Mervyn’s divisions with comparable-store decline in 10 of the last 12 months.

TOMMY TOTS: Tommy Hilfiger USA Inc. has named Michael Spillane as president of its children’s division, Tommy Kids. Spillane previously served as president of designer brands at Jockey International, where he oversaw the innerwear lines of Tommy Hilfiger and Liz Claiborne. The appointment represents a realignment of duties within the children’s division, as Todd Howard, who formerly headed the entire division, will now only manage big children’s sizes. Howard’s responsibilities also include men’s jeans in addition to junior jeans. Spillane reports to Howard and will oversee the smaller children’s sizes, including layette, infants, toddlers, girls 4 to 6x and boys 4 to 7.