JCPenney picks another Apple alumnus for chief technology role

PLANO, Texas — Another former Apple executive has joined the ranks at JCPenney. The company announced Wednesday that Kristen Blum, a former director of supply chain and International retail for Apple Inc., has been named EVP and chief technology officer, effective Jan. 23.

Blum reports to COO Mike Kramer, and has responsibility for the company's JCP.com business and information technology systems.

Kramer said, "The transformation underway at JCPenney relies heavily on having the best-performing, most effective technology to support our critical business functions and enhance our shopping experience. We are fortunate to have a solid technological infrastructure in place, and there is no one more talented or qualified in our industry to further develop and expand our capabilities than Kristen Blum. Having worked with her for many years, I have seen firsthand Kristen's extraordinary ability to match strategic business objectives with technological solutions. We are thrilled to have her on board."

Blum was most recently SVP, chief information officer, enterprise transformation at PepsiCo. From 2006 to 2010, she was SVP, chief information officer at Abercrombie & Fitch, where she served on the CEO's leadership team and was responsible for the strategic transformation of people, process and technology in support of international growth initiatives. Blum spent four years at Apple Inc. as director of supply chain solutions and international retail, overseeing technology supporting global operations and the development of systems supporting Apple retail. From 1999 to 2002, she was a senior manager at KPMG/Bearing Point, consulting for clients in the retail, consumer and high-tech industries. She has also held merchandising, planning and allocation roles at Planet Hollywood, Walt Disney and Victoria's Secret.

Blum received a B.A. from The Ohio State University. She is a member of the National Retail Federation's CIO Council and a Governing Body Member of the CIO Summit, among other leadership roles in CIO-focused organizations.