JCPenney Co.

There was an increase in the number of circulars retailers released in the month of April, while page counts increased only slightly.

By Robin Lewis, [email protected] and Michael Dart, [email protected]

JCPenney on Thursday named Ken Hannah as its new CFO in the latest of a series of senior level personnel moves designed to aid in the company’s transformation.

Dallas -- J. C. Penney Co. said that Ken Hannah has been named CFO, effective May 7.

Hannah, who brings over 20 years of finance, operations and audit experience from a wide range of leading companies that include General Electric, Boeing and The Home Depot, has spent the last six years at MEMC Electronic Materials, where he served as president of solar energy, responsible for improving process discipline, simplifying the organization and reducing cost to drive growth in the company's solar business

A friend of mine recently called to ask my opinion of the “new” Gap. She had just returned from shopping at The Grove, an upmarket mall in Los Angles, and couldn’t get over how “different” the Gap seemed. It wasn’t just the merchandise as much as the overall environment that had struck her. Everything seemed so “fresh,” she said.

New York -- Hudson + Broad, a New York City-based visual merchandising firm, is suing J.C. Penney Co. for $40 million. H+B is seeking $20 million in compensatory damages and an additional $20 million in punitive damages.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney has made a number of key appointments in the areas of real estate, supply chain, communications, marketing and philanthropy.

Plano, Texas -- On Thursday, J.C. Penney and CEO Ron Johnson announced a new lineup of executive players to join the department store retailer’s team, one of them from the ranks of Apple.

Benjamin Fay, senior director of retail real estate, design and development for Apple, has been named executive VP real estate, store design and development for J.C. Penney.