RETAILING

Pier 1 Says Exec Has Been Placed on Leave: The Fort Worth-based retailer confirmed reports that it placed its chief financial officer on leave, in the wake of the company’s disclosure that it lost $20 million from trading by an outside financial advisor. Although Pier 1 declined to identify the advisor, people familiar with the company said it is Capital Insight Brokerage, a Beverly Hills company run by bond broker Jay Goldinger. A Pier 1 Imports Inc. spokeswoman said she did not know when Robert Herndon’s leave of absence started and declined to elaborate. Herndon, 61, is the only company executive or board member put on leave, she said. Herndon didn’t return phone messages left at his house.