JCPenney is restructuring its merchandising team in the wake of its Chief Merchandising Officer John Tighe leaving the company. With Tighe’s departure, JCPenney has eliminated the position.
As part of the realignment, three merchandising execs now will report to Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison:
-
Jodie Johnson, SVP and Senior General Merchandise Manager of Women’s Apparel, Sephora, Salon, Women’s Specialty, Footwear and Handbags;
-
James Starke, SVP and Senior General Merchandise Manager of Men’s Apparel, Children’s Apparel and Jewelry; and
Advertisement
-
Val Harris, SVP of Product Development and Design.
Tighe has been chief merchant and EVP of JCPenney since 2015. He first joined JCPenney in 2002 from the now-defunct May Department Stores, where he was a buyer.
Additionally, Tony Hurst, SVP and General Merchandise Manager of Home, will now be responsible for custom window design and home services, as well as commercial sales. Hurst will report to Joe McFarland, EVP of Stores.
JCPenney, like many of its department store counterparts, has experienced significantdifficulties in recent years, closing 130+ stores in 2017 and taking a $62 million net loss in Q2. In October, the department store trimmed its 2017 profit and comparable sales forecasts as it accelerates inventory liquidation ahead of the holiday season. Slow-moving inventory continues to be a problem for JCPenney, forcing the company to continue marking down merchandise so that it sells quicker.
