Marvin Ellison picked as next President/CEO of JCPenney

(Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Target Market News) – The Board of Directors of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. announced earlier this month the appointment of Marvin Ellison, currently executive vice president of stores at Home Depot, as President and CEO-Designee, effective November 1, 2014. Mr. Ellison will also join the Board of Directors. He will then succeed Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III as CEO of JCPenney on August 1, 2015. At that time, Mr. Ullman will become Executive Chairman of the Board for a period of one year. Prior to his 12-year tenure at Home Depot, Mr. Ellison served for 15 years in various positions at Target.

Thomas J. Engibous, Chairman of JCPenney’s Board of Directors, said, “The Board has completed its search for the right CEO to lead the next stage of JCPenney’s growth. We are delighted to have found that person in Marvin Ellison, a highly accomplished retail executive with a history of delivering top and bottom line results at major American retailers. He brings to the role, among other assets, an extensive knowledge of store operations and supply chain management as well as a demonstrated ability to successfully run large retail organizations. In light of these attributes, we believe he is well equipped to return the Company to profitable growth.

I would like to express the Board’s deep gratitude to Mike Ullman for all he has done, and will continue to do, for JCPenney. After agreeing to return to the Company during the most difficult period in its history, he has stabilized the business, improved performance across the board, and placed the Company on a course for profitable growth. His dedicated service has been invaluable to the Company, and we look forward to his continued contributions as CEO during the transition and as Executive Chairman thereafter.”

Mr. Ullman said, “It is a great pleasure to welcome Marvin Ellison to JCPenney. Over the course of his career, he has proven his ability to produce results by improving operations, building customer loyalty, and motivating his teams. His experience and leadership are exactly what we need to accelerate the progress we have made over the last 18 months. I look forward to working closely with him and the rest of our outstanding team in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition and a successful future for JCPenney.”

This article originally published in the October 27, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.