It is located in Marin County, California.
Retail Veteran Jill Soltau Named JC Penney CEO
The previous president and CEO of fabric and craft chain Jo-Ann Stores will be J.C. Penney’s first female CEO.
Plano, Texas—J.C. Penney Co. Inc. has appointed 30-year retail veteran Jill Soltau as CEO, effective Oct. 15.
She takes over for Marvin Ellison, who left the company in May to run Lowe’s, and is the retailer’s first female CEO.
Soltau most recently served as president and CEO of Jo-Ann Stores Inc., the nation’s largest fabric and crafts retailer with more than 850 locations in 49 states. The Hudson, Ohio-based company operates Jo-Ann Fabrics and Jo-Ann Etc.
As a veteran retail merchant and former general merchandise manager, she was brought to Jo-Ann Stores to reinvigorate the brand and bolster its market position through a consumer‐centric approach that integrated a number of new tech features into its business.
Under her leadership, the company has undergone a revitalization, expanded digital and omnichannel capabilities, and forged strategic partnerships that would allow it to build meaningful relationships with its customers, J.C. Penney said in the news release announcing Soltau’s hire.
The Plano, Texas-based department store chain is hoping she can do the same for it.
J.C. Penney continues to struggle and results of its turnaround plan so far seem tepid. In the second quarter ended Aug. 4, comps were basically flat and total net sales fell nearly 8 percent year-over-year to $2.76 billion.
The company also just lost Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Davis, who resigned effective Oct. 1 to pursue another opportunity. Jerry Murray, senior vice president of finance, has stepped into the role of interim CFO.
Prior to joining Jo-Ann Stores, Soltau spent eight years at retail chain Shopko as executive vice president and chief marketing officer and then president.
Before Shopko, Soltau held senior-level positions in merchandising, planning and private brand management at Sears and Kohl’s.
She began her career with department store Carson Pirie Scott (Carson’s), which was later acquired by Saks Inc. and then Bon-Ton Holdings Inc.
“Jill stood out from the start among an incredibly strong slate of candidates,” said Paul J. Brown, J.C. Penney board director and chairman of the search committee. “As we looked for the right person to lead this iconic company, we wanted someone with rich apparel and merchandising experience, and found Jill to be an ideal fit. Not only is she an established CEO and former chief merchant, her depth of experience in product development, marketing, e‐commerce and store operations have been an important basis for the turnaround work she spearheaded at prior companies.”
J.C.
The Latest
Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
May’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
It’s the second year for the event, slated to take place in October in Toronto.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Sales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
The retailer is moving to a newly designed space in the same shopping center.
Gifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.