Apple Exec Ron Johnson Nabbed By JCPenney

UPDATE: JCPenney has released a statement confirming that Johnson will be joining its company to become CEO and leaving Apple.

Johnson said of the move, "I've always dreamed of leading a major retail company as CEO, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help J. C. Penney re-imagine what I believe to be the single greatest opportunity in American retailing today, the Department Store. I have tremendous confidence in J. C. Penney's future and look forward to working with Mike Ullman, the Executive Board and the Company's 150,000 associates to transform the way America shops."

JCPenney noted, "Mr. Johnson will assume the CEO position on Nov. 1, 2011, and report to Mr. Ullman, who will become executive chairman. Mr. Johnson will also join the Company's Board of Directors, effective Aug. 1, 2011."

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Apple executive Ron Johnson, who oversaw the company's stores as senior vice president of retail, has been nabbed by JCPenney.

The Wall Street Journal reports, "J.C. Penney Co. is tapping Ron Johnson, head of Apple Inc.'s iconic retail stores, as its new president and eventual chief executive, people familiar with the situation said."

Apple has opened over 300 retail stores since Johnson joined the company in 2000. He reported directly to Apple CEO Steve Jobs and according to his bio on Apple's website, "Johnson leads Apple's retail strategy and is responsible for its overall execution and performance." He previously worked at Target.

The Journal notes of Johnson's contribution to Apple,

Mr. Johnson has won kudos for reinventing the concept of the retail store at Apple. Apparel retailers have long admired Apple's store environments, including their spare, uncluttered layout and use of handheld checkout devices.

Apple's vice president of global marketing communications, Allison Johnson, announced her departure from Apple earlier this year. Mac software chief Bertrand Serlet also left Apple this year after more than ten years with the Cupertino company.

Comments

[mxytsplyk]

02:11 AM on 06/15/2011

He has his work cut out for him. JCP couldnʻt figure out if it wanted to be like Sears or Macys, and wound up being like nothing.

[JohnTheMac]

07:19 PM on 06/14/2011

It gives me a kick to see articles like this.
Normally, we hear about Steve Jobs, and his health, and how he is so important to the company, and could never be replaced.
But then, other people leave, and all of a sudden THOSE were the people Apple cannot live without.
Reminds me of the cemeteries being filled with irreplaceable men.

[ResearchtheFacts]

04:32 PM on 06/14/2011

Wow, interesting first the store employees banning together to become a bigger voice and now top level execs leaving a company supposedly at the height of its success? 

Ok, is this the first signs of folks jumping ship. Nokia just ate apple for lunch winning an infringement lawsuit which first started with 10 counts and ended in 75 patent infringements for iphone.

Apple had to pay lump sum upfront and is now a Nokia licensee (b-i t.c.h). lol

[JohnTheMac]

07:12 PM on 06/14/2011

They'll get a few bucks per phone, just in time to send a check to Microsoft for Win7 licenses.

[ResearchtheFacts]

07:30 PM on 06/14/2011

Did you see this because I am still laughing.

"This (the Apple deal) could cause the stock to have a bit of a relief rally today, but does very little to address the stark reality that the company is facing," said Richard Windsor, analyst at Nomura.

"Hence we see no reason to remain anything other than negative on the stock."

And this...

"Due to the worldwide media coverage given to and generated by Apple's announcement of its 'iCloud' services and the ensuing saturation advertising campaign pursued by Apple, the media and the general public have quickly come to associate the mark 'iCloud' with Apple, rather than iCloud Communications," the Internet calling firm said in its complaint.

I particularly liked this and am still laughing...

The company also says in its suit that Apple knew that iCloud Communications held the trademark on the iCloud name, but used it anyway and in doing so, has hurt its use of the name.

"At the time Apple elected to adopt 'iCloud' for its cloud computing telecommunications and data services, Apple was aware of or was willfully blind to iCloud Communications' use of and rights in the iCloud Marks."

[ResearchtheFacts]

07:37 PM on 06/14/2011

"Although Apple aggressively protects its trademark rights, Apple has a long and well known history of knowingly and willfully treading on the trademark rights of others -- a history which began as early as the 1970s when Apple was first sued for trademark infringement by the Beatles record label, Apple Corp.," iCloud says in its suit.

The complaint also points out that Apple's use of the names Macintosh computer, Mighty Mouse, iPhone and iAd were each met with trademark infringement suits from other companies who've used those respective names for products of their own.

[buddhistMonkey]

04:18 AM on 06/15/2011

((( "Ok, is this the first signs of folks jumping ship." )))

Oh, come now. Ron Johnson is leaving Apple to become CEO of a major retail chain. He did his job superbly, turning the Apple Store into the most profitable retailer in America. He oversaw the opening of more than 300 Apple Stores worldwide, and not a single one of them has ever closed. He more than met every challenge put to him, and excelled beyond compare. It's time for him to move on to new challenges.

[ZeFoussa]

01:17 PM on 06/14/2011

This is kind of a big deal for the retailer with the most revenue per sq.ft. And yet this article covers very little info

[MtnGeek]

12:40 PM on 06/14/2011

Has anyone heard if Jonathan Ive is still thinking about leaving Apple too (http://theweek.com/article/index/212627/can-apple-survive-without-its-lead-designer). Without their lead designer and the head of their retail Apple may be looking at a tailspin here.

[helioszephyr]

01:35 PM on 06/14/2011

... and I heard the head janitor at 1 Infinity Loop is being lured by Google's office park prop management... surely leading to Apple's immediate crash and burn.

As if what, Apple never planned for the possibility of its VPs leaving for other ventures?

[SanityForOnce]

02:09 PM on 06/14/2011

That Ive story was bogus....... he ain't going anywhere. Why would he?

[French Toast]

12:39 PM on 06/14/2011

I can see where that'd be a dream job for him. If he was successful, he has the chance of basically reshaping department stores and mall outlets everywhere (also know as success bringing on imitators).

It'll be interesting to see if he can make a difference.

[bluguy8]

09:30 PM on 06/14/2011

at JCP-- awful store. I can't figure out how they stay open

[French Toast]

01:29 PM on 06/15/2011

I don't get how all department stores stay open. It's all just chinese stuff that's made at less than a dollar a piece. How is it that anyone buys this crap?

I don't go to JCP and get a < $1 for $25. I go online and get American and union made clothes that are a $15 item for $25.

[mcamp52]

12:16 PM on 06/14/2011

This will be interesting to watch. Can one guy make that big a difference? We'll see.