J.McLaughlin CEO to take reins of J.Jill
Women’s apparel retailer J.Jill has found its next chief executive.
The company has announced the appointment of Mary Ellen Coyne as CEO and president, effective May 1, 2025. In addition to her role as CEO and president, Coyne will join the board of directors. CEO Claire Spofford, who announced her retirement in December, will step down on April 30, 2025.
Coyne has over three decades of executive expertise in the retail sector, and has served as CEO of J.McLaughlin since July 2016. Under her leadership, the clothing retailer expanded its retail footprint, enhanced its e-commerce capabilities, elevated products, and entered new product categories.
Prior to J.McLaughlin, Coyne held various executive roles at Ralph Lauren, including chief merchandising officer of women’s and children's apparel, over a span of more than 15 years.
"Mary Ellen's extensive experience in the retail industry, combined with her proven track record of driving growth and strategic transformation, makes her the ideal leader to take J.Jill into its next phase," said Michael Rahamim, chairman of the board at J.Jill. "Her recent success as CEO of J.McLaughlin and her impactful tenure at Ralph Lauren speaks to her ability to build and scale businesses, enhance customer experience, and deliver shareholder value. We are thrilled to welcome her to the J.Jill family."
Spofford was named CEO of J.Jill in February 2021. She is credited with leading the company into a new era delivering healthy, sustainable margin performance and significant cash flow generation driven by disciplined inventory management and a strong focus on full-price selling.
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Headquartered near Boston, J.Jill operates more than 200 stores nationwide, where guests can find apparel, footwear and accessories.
"I am honored to join J.Jill at such a pivotal time in its journey," said Coyne. "J.Jill's commitment to providing high-quality, versatile apparel that resonates with the consumer aligns perfectly with my passion for creating meaningful customer experiences. I am excited to work with the talented team at J.Jill to continue building on the brand's strong heritage and drive its future growth."
