JCPenney names former Jones Lang LaSalle exec as CFO

JCPenney has tapped an executive with real estate and retail experience as its new finance head.

The department store retailer said it has appointed Stephanie Plaines as CFO, effective immediately.   

From March 2019 to November 2020. Plaines served as CFO at Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading global commercial real estate services company. Prior to that, she was CFO, US Retail, Starbucks.    

Earlier in her career, Plaines also served in executive positions at Sam’s Clu and Ahold Delhaize. She currently serves as a board director and audit committee member for Nielsen Holdings plc and The Clorox Company

“Stephanie brings more than 20 years of high-performance strategic and financial leadership with best-in-class global retailers,” said Marc Rosen, who took the reins as Penney’s CEO last November. “Her deep strengths in data-forward financial management and track record of value creation will make her an invaluable advisor throughout the business as we develop new digital and technology capabilities to advance our transformation agenda.”

Plaines will lead all financial activities across the JCPenney enterprise. She will drive best-in-class execution across functions including financial strategy, real estate, capital deployment, credit services, sourcing and procurement, treasury, and accounting. She will also apply decades of experience working with data to improve business performance and profitability.

“I’m excited to join such an iconic American company during this time of pivotal transformation,” said Plaines. “I am looking forward to working with Marc, his leadership team and the finance organization to advance the next chapter of growth for the company, drive customer-centric, sustainable expansion and continue to position JCPenney to win in the marketplace.”