J.C. Penney hires Lowe's exec as new marketing head

A former Lowe's executive whose resume includes a 16-year stint at Stapes has joined the executive leadership team at J.C. Penney.



Penney said Marci Grebstein will join the company as executive VP, chief marketing officer, in June. Grebstein succeeds Mary Beth West who stepped down as Penney's marketing head on April 1, 2017, after two years on the job, and went on to join The Hershey Company.



Grebstein most recently served as chief marketing officer for Lowe's, a position she held from November 2015 until she left the company in January 2017. Prior to that, she served as VP of advertising for the home improvement retailer.



Prior to Lowe's, Grebstein worked for Food Lion, overseeing the repositioning of the grocery store chain in her role as VP of marketing and brand strategy. Grebstein also spent 16 years at Staples, holding positions of increasing responsibility to include VP of business-to-business marketing and e-commerce.



"Marci is an outstanding senior leader with a proven track record of developing winning marketing strategies for a diverse cross-section of leading national retailers," said Ellison. "As we focus on enhancing our Home Refresh strategy, better utilizing customer data and optimizing our omnichannel capabilities, her broad retail expertise will be invaluable as we seek to differentiate our business through strategic marketing initiatives that will entice new and loyal customers to choose J.C. Penney for their homes and families."