Retail news round-up on January 18, 2016: Footfall rises in Scotland, Super Retail gets inaugural chief information officer Paul Hayes.

Scotland sees rise in footfall

Scotland was the only part of UK that witnessed an increase in footfall last month.

The Scottish Retail Consortium/Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor found that the 0.2% growth, compared with December last year, was also the best performance for a month north of the border since April.

Online shopping led to a fall in footfall in the other parts of UK by 2.2% last month.

Super Retail picks up IT exec as inaugural CIO

Super Retail Group has nabbed Paul Hayes, former head of IT delivery for UK department store John Lewis, as its inaugural chief information officer.

The move is to boost the digital credentials of the retail giant.

After 10 years at John Lewis, Hayes will lead IT and digital at Super Retail.

Hayes' initial mandate is to implement and develop "innovative and cost-effective technologies" as well as a long-term IT and digital roadmap that includes improving data security.