* Saks Fifth Avenue announced Tuesday that...

* Saks Fifth Avenue announced Tuesday that it appointed Gary Witkin as its vice chairman and promoted Brian Kendrick to executive vice president.

In his new position, Witkin will oversee real estate, store planning, construction, clearance centers, visual merchandising and customer development. Before joining Saks, Witkin was executive vice president and director of stores for Dayton Hudson Department Stores. He has also worked at Marshall Field & Co. and Neiman Marcus.

As executive vice president, Kendrick’s role will be widened in the financial, administrative and operational areas. Kendrick joined Saks in 1991 as chief financial officer.