JCPenney Announces Key Merchandising & Marketing Appointments.

J.C. Penney Co., Inc. Executive Vice President, and President and Chief Operating Officer for JCPenney Stores, Catalog and Internet, Vanessa Castagna, has announced the following appointments:

Charles Chinni has been named Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for Home and Fine Jewelry, effective February 1. Chinni will report to Castagna. In his role as G.M.M., a new title for JCPenney but the norm for the industry, Chinni replaces Ann Gravseth, President of the Home Division, who is moving to a new position in the Women’s Accessories Division, effective February 1.

Chinni joins JCPenney from Strouds, a specialty bed and bath retailer in California where he served as Chairman and C.E.O. Previously, Chinni was Executive Vice President, Merchandising for Kmart Corporation where he was responsible for all home, hard lines and apparel lines. Chinni also was President, Merchandise for Macy’s/Bamberger’s responsible for home, cosmetics, fine jewelry and lingerie. Prior assignments in the Macy’s organization include General Merchandise Manager for Home Store; Director of Stores for Macy’s Atlanta and for Bamberger’s; and, Executive Vice President of Development for Macy’s Corporate.

William Cappiello has been named Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for Men’s and Children’s, effective February 1 . Cappiello will report to Castagna. In his role as G.M.M., Cappiello will replace Cathy Mills, President of the Men’s Division, and Phyllis Schuler, President of the Children’s Division. Effective February 1, both Mills and Schuler have left the Company.

Cappiello joins JCPenney from Clicks or Mortar, Inc., a consulting firm for e-commerce and the retail industry, where he was President and Chief Executive Officer. Cappiello also has served as President of the Sports Authority and President and C.E.O. of Parisian, Inc., a division of Saks, Inc. Prior to these assignments he worked for R.H. Macy & Co. where he served in a number of senior leadership roles including President of Merchandising for Women’s Apparel, President of Stores for Macy’s West and Bullocks, and Executive Vice President for Corporate Product Development.

Edward Mawyer has been appointed Vice President and Director of Merchandising for Family Footwear, effective February 1. Mawyer will report to Castagna. In this role, Mawyer replaces Lou Lynn, Divisional Vice President and Director of Merchandising for Family Shoes, who will retire effective February 1.

Mawyer comes to JCPenney from J.M. Shoe Group, where he served as President. Previously, he was President of S.L.J. Retail LLC, operator of Sam and Libby retail stores; Executive Vice President of Larry Stuart, Ltd., a woman’s footwear supplier; Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for Specialty Retailers, Inc., Footwear Division; and, President and C.E.O. of Mawyer Enterprises, a retail footwear business. His background also includes sales and marketing positions with the Wohl Shoe Company and Thom McAn Shoe Company.

John Budd has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for JCPenney Stores and Catalog, effective February 1. Budd will report to Castagna.

Budd served for many years with May Department Stores as Executive Vice President of Merchandising at Kaufmann’s in Pittsburgh, and Senior Vice President of Advertising at May Co. in Cleveland, and later Executive Vice President of Merchandising for the Home Store, May Company California. He also spent 18 years with Federated Department Stores at Abraham and Strauss, Jordan Marsh, and, most recently, Macy’s West, where he was Senior Vice President of Sales Promotion and Marketing.

About these merchandising and marketing appointments Castagna commented: “These professional merchants bring outstanding talent into our organization. Their top-notch experience well qualifies them to lead the divisions to which they’re assigned. Their backgrounds have equipped them to help us implement the changes we have ahead of us. We are pleased to have them join our team.”

Castagna also announced that Ray Pierce, Senior Vice President and Director of Special Projects, will retire effective February 1. Castagna said, “We would like to thank Ray Pierce and Lou Lynn for their many contributions to the Company and wish them the best in their retirement.”

Castagna added, “We’d like to thank Cathy Mills and Phyllis Schuler for their contributions, and wish them well in their future endeavors.”