Hot Topic's Sr. V.P. Retires

After eight years as an executive at City of Industry, Calif.–based Hot Topic Inc., Jay A. Johnson retired at the end of July.

Johnson, 57, had been with the company since 1995. He started out as chief financial officer and moved up in 2001 to senior vice president of strategic analysis and investor relations.

A certified public accountant who got his accounting degree at California State University, Northridge, Johnson constantly joked he was the oldest member of the staff at the youth-oriented retailer that sells music-influenced apparel to 12- to 22- year-olds at more than 400 mall-based stores nationwide.

Before working at Hot Topic, Johnson served as vice president and chief financial officer of Frame-n-Lens Optical Inc., a national optical retailer. —Deborah Belgum