Nordstrom promotes veteran exec to chief HR role

Nordstrom is putting a familiar face in the position of chief human resources officer (CHRO).

The luxury department store retailer is naming Farrell Redwine as its new CHRO. She will join the executive team and report to Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom. 

Redwine joined Nordstrom in 2016, and has held various leadership roles throughout her tenure, most recently overseeing centers of excellence for the entire employee lifecycle. Prior to Nordstrom, she held global HR leadership roles at several other large corporations, including ExxonMobil and Time Inc. 

In this role, Redwine and her team will support more than 55,000 employees at Nordstrom in stores, fulfillment and distribution centers, and corporate centers. She will oversee all aspects of human resources, including recruitment and succession planning, learning and development, recognition and retention, diversity, and total rewards.

With the addition of Redwine to the executive team, five of the company's 13 executive team members are women. Nordstrom says it believes having a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusion fosters innovation, enables it to better serve customers, and strengthens its ability to attract and retain top talent.

Redwine was recognized by Savoy magazine as one of its 2019 "Most Influential Women in Corporate America," a prestigious list of African American business leaders and executives.

"The heritage of service at Nordstrom is enabled by our people," said Redwine. "I look forward to supporting Nordstrom's ambitious and exciting future by driving an inclusive culture of belonging, attracting best-in-class talent and creating a meaningful and positive work experience for our people."

"At Nordstrom, we aim to create an exceptional employee experience so our people can create an exceptional customer experience," said Erik Nordstrom. "It's both the right thing to do and best for our business. With Farrell's deep experience and leadership, she is uniquely qualified to help us build an innovative, diverse and inclusive workforce and culture."

Nordstrom Inc. operates more than 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations.