J.C. Penney is making four new executive hires and one promotion after laying off 900 employees, including 14% of its headquarters staff, earlier this month. The new hires include another Apple executive who worked under Ron Johnson.
Benjamin Fay, 40, Apple's director of retail real estate, design and development, is joining the embattled department store chain in a similar role. As executive vice president of retail real estate, design and development at J.C. Penney, he will lead the Plano, Texas-based company's store strategy in more than 1,100 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. His new responsibilities include the development of new store concepts and the remodeling of existing stores. Fay, who worked at Apple for eight years, will report directly to Ron Johnson, his former boss at Apple.
John Singleton, 51, a former Abercrombie & Fitch executive in charge of distribution, trade policy and brand protection, is joining J.C. Penney as its chief supply chain officer. In that role he will look for ways to simplify the company's supply chain processes.
Laura Sandall, a former independent marketing consultant, is joining as vice president of events marketing and publicity, charged with generating "buzz and excitement" around the company's brand through events and publicity campaigns. Prior to starting her own business, Sandall previously worked as the director of events marketing and publicity for Target.
Michelynn Woodard, a corporate philanthropy strategist, is joining as vice president of philanthropy. In that role she will lead the company's charitable efforts around the country through strategic partnerships with philanthropic organizations.
Kristin Hays, 41, J.C. Penney's vice president of investor relations, has been promoted to senior vice president of communications. Hays joined the department store chain as a litigation attorney in 2002 and since then has taken on several roles in the company's legal and communications departments.
Following the announcement of corporate cuts, J.C. Penney's chief financial officer, Michael Dastugue, stepped down on April 13. Dastugue has been temporarily replaced by Chief Operating Officer Michael Kramer while the company looks for a permanent replacement.
Write to Damian Ghigliotty at Damian.Ghigliotty@dowjones.com
