Macy’s COO to leave and role to be eliminated amid other leadership changes

Macy’s Inc. is making some changes to its senior leadership team as the company continues to overhaul its business in response to changing consumer behavior. 

The department store retailer said that John Harper, COO, will depart the company effective August 1, with the role to be eliminated after he leaves.

In addition, Marla Beck, CEO and co-founder of Bluemercury, will leave the company this summer. Macy’s has started a search for a new CEO to lead the beauty retailer. 

In other moves, Macy’s named Laura Miller as chief information officer, effective March 15, succeeding chief technology officer Naveen Krishna, who is leaving the company. Most recently, Miller served as chief information officer of InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG).  

Chuck DiGiovanna, currently VP, real estate, has been appointed to lead Macy’s real estate function, succeeding Douglas W. Sesler, who is leaving the company.  

“As a digitally led omnichannel retailer, Macy’s, Inc. is in the midst of an exciting transformation,” said Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO. “We are building a diverse leadership team that includes a blend of new talent with outside perspectives along with our tenured and best developed leaders who will accelerate the progress of our Polaris growth strategy. I am confident that these changes in reporting structure will enable us to be nimbler and more efficient as we move forward in our recovery and drive top and bottom-line growth.”