Michigan business news briefs: La-Z-Boy names exec

FURNITURE: La-Z-Boy names exec La-Z-Boy Inc. said Thursday that Mark S. Bacon Sr. has been named chief retail officer. Bacon succeeds Mark Wiltshire, president of La-Z-Boy's retail segment, who recently left the company. Bacon will report directly to CEO Kurt Darrow and will have overall responsibility for all sales, store operations, training and merchandising functions within the Monroe company's retail segment. MANUFACTURING: Stock sale explained Jackson-based Sparton Corp. said Thursday that it received a letter from Bradley O. Smith, chairman of the board of directors, concerning the circumstances behind his recent sales of stock. Smith advised the board that, "The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the circumstances behind the sales and reassure you that the sales do not in any way reflect a change in my... [read full story]