J.C. Penney names Kraft exec as senior VP marketing

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney has named Debra Berman as senior VP marketing. Berman previously served as VP marketing strategy and engagement at Kraft Foods Group since 2009.



"Debra Berman is an enormously talented marketing executive, and her desire to join the J.C. Penney team is a testament to our brand and its potential," said Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III, CEO for Penney. "Her broad experience and success as a marketing strategist for major consumer brands make her the ideal leader to help us continue to reconnect with our core customer through effective promotions and campaigns that will increase excitement and loyalty now and over the long term."



Berman will report directly to Ullman and serve on the Penney board. Prior to joining Kraft, Berman spent nearly five years as strategic planning director at DDB Advertising, and before that held senior strategy planning roles at Sterling Brands, Young & Rubicam and Swander Pace and Company.



"There is huge opportunity to remind America’s families why it is so great to shop at J.C. Penney while attracting new customers to the brand,” said Berman. “This can be achieved through targeted campaigns that creatively highlight our unique and authentic combination of style, quality and value. I am eager to begin working with Mike and the entire team to restore J.C. Penney’s place as an iconic destination for customers for important occasions and all the times in between.”