J.C. Penney Reorganizing C-Suite Officers Again
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Numerous staff changes may signal direction changes for retail giant.
Big changes may soon be coming for retailer J.C. Penney. Recent staffing changes in the C-Suite at the retailer seem to foreshadow bigger things for the future.
Janet Dhillon, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary, is leaving the retailer, effective immediately, according to a company filing. The move comes in the midst of other important staff changes, including the departure of CMO Debra Berman, who had held her position less than three years. In other changes, John Tighe was promoted to senior general merchandise manager for men, while Siiri Dougherty was promoted to senior general merchandise manager for women, the Dallas Morning News reported. And Mike Rodgers, who joined Penney last year from Saks Inc. as senior vice president of Omni channel, was promoted to executive vice president Omni channel.
And Kent B. Foster, a board member who has served since 1998, announced that he will be retiring effective May 15. A Penney spokeswoman told the Dallas Morning News that Foster’s seat won’t be filled. Penney had added a director in October: Craig Owens, 60, a retired chief financial officer and chief administrative officer of Campbell Soup Co.
J. C. Penney has suffered something of a tumultuous several years of changes and reversals, including something of a revolving door at its CEO position, but recently the retailer has seemingly found its footing once again Marvin Ellison is scheduled to take the reins as CEO on August 1, replacing current CEO Mike Ullman, and some of these changes appear to be early moves by Ellison to begin to guide the company in a new direction and plan for the future, according to Retail Dive.
Other recent changes at the retailer have been geared towards restructuring and strengthening the company, according to Integrated Solutions for Retailers. They reintroduced the print catalogue this year, and J.C. Penney is hoping that they can continue the positive growth they have seen in the recent months, as they reported stronger-than-expected holiday sales. It also follows plans to restructure, by closing 33 stores and cutting 2,250 jobs, in its efforts to better meet its customer base. Bringing back aspects of what made the chain a shopper-favorite may be just what the brand needs to complete the comeback in 2015.