Women’s fashion retailer J. Jill has appointed Mary Ellen Coyne as its next CEO and president, effective 1 May. She will also take a seat on the company’s board.
Coyne brings more than 30 years of experience in retail, including nearly a decade as CEO of J. McLaughlin.
Prior to that, she held various leadership roles at Ralph Lauren, where she served as chief merchandising officer for women’s and children’s.
She succeeds Claire Spofford, who is stepping down at the end of April after four years leading J. Jill. The company had announced her planned departure in December.
Under Spofford’s leadership, the retailer avoided bankruptcy and managed to expand its store footprint despite a tough consumer environment.
Michael Rahamim, board chairman at J. Jill, highlighted Coyne’s expertise in retail strategy and customer engagement.
“Mary Ellen’s extensive experience in the retail industry, combined with her proven track record of driving growth and strategic transformation, makes her the ideal leader to take J. Jill into its next phase,” he said.
During Coyne’s tenure at J. McLaughlin, the retailer grew its store locations and expanded into new product categories while increasing revenue and profitability, J. Jill said.
J. Jill previously signaled interest in carefully growing its physical store presence. In Q3 last year, the company operated 247 stores, up from 244, following openings in Atlanta, Virginia Beach, and Colorado Springs.
However, the macroeconomic climate remains a challenge, with consumer sentiment dipping in February amid inflation concerns.
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