J.C. Penney has announced the appointment of Marc Rosen as chief executive officer, effective Nov. 1. Stanley Shashoua, Simon’s chief investment officer, has been appointed as executive chairman of the Board of Directors after serving as interim chief executive officer of JCPenney since January. 

“Marc joins J.C. Penney following a year of focused work to stabilize the business, improve financials, and position the retailer for long-term success,” says Shashoua. “Working with the phenomenal and dedicated J.C. Penney team as CEO has been immensely rewarding, and I look forward to my next step as executive chairman. Marc’s significant e-commerce and retail experience with companies like Levi’s and Walmart makes him the perfect fit to lead the next chapter of the company’s transformation as we work to better serve our customers.” 

Rosen brings more than 25 years of retail and e-commerce experience to the role, most recently serving as executive vice president and president of Levi Strauss Americas at Levi Strauss. As leader of the company’s digital enterprise office, he drove the digital strategy for the apparel company. 

During his tenure at Levi Strauss, Rosen held executive-level roles overseeing its direct-to-consumer business. He was responsible for leading the company’s global e-commerce and retail businesses, including 3,000 stores, resulting in transformational growth. Prior to Levi Strauss, Rosen spent 14 years at Walmart in a variety of senior leadership functions, ultimately serving as senior vice president of global e-commerce. He began his career at Ernst & Young, providing strategic retail advisory services. Rosen currently serves on the board of directors of Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company. 

“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this storied brand and build on the progress the J.C. Penney team has made under their new ownership group,” says Rosen. “I have spent my career focused on iconic American retailers and it has given me a unique perspective on the value of heritage brands. Joining at this milestone moment in the company’s history, I am eager to propel the business into its next era and connect with our customers in new ways.”