Kmart Shifts Ad Duties to Its CIO

DETROIT Kmart has shifted its advertising and marketing responsibilities to Karen Austin, its chief information officer, a company representative said.

Barbara Firment, 51, who was promoted less than a year ago to senior vice president of advertising, sales and in-store presentation, departed on Friday, the Kmart representative said, declining to elaborate.

Sources said Firment was dismissed. Firment could not be reached.

Austin, 41, who joined the Troy, Mich, retailer in 1984, is assuming her new duties on a permanent basis, the representative added.