Jeff Gennette
Former chairman and chief executive of Macy's, Inc.
Jeff Gennette is the American retail executive who spent around 40 years at Macy's, rising from the merchant ranks to chairman and chief executive of Macy's, Inc. He led the department store group's Polaris transformation strategy before retiring in February 2024, when Tony Spring took over.
| Role | Former chairman and chief executive of Macy's, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Macy's, Inc. |
| Tenure at Macy's | About 40 years |
| Retired | February 2024 |
| Successor | Tony Spring |
| Known for | Polaris strategy |
Who is Jeff Gennette?
Jeff Gennette is a career department store executive best known as chairman and chief executive of Macy's, Inc., one of the largest department store groups in the United States. He retired in February 2024 after about four decades with the company, handing over to Tony Spring, who had been named president and chief executive elect in 2023.
Career
Gennette built his career inside Macy's, mainly on the merchandising side of the business. By 2015 he was president of Macy's, reporting to chairman and chief executive Terry Lundgren. In a reorganisation announced in early 2015 his remit was broadened to growth strategies across Macy's omnichannel businesses, covering merchandise planning, merchandising and marketing for stores and digital channels, as well as private brand development. He handed his day to day duties as chief merchandising officer to Timothy Baxter at that point.
- Around 40 years at Macy's, Inc.
- 2015: president of Macy's with responsibility for omnichannel growth strategy
- Later: chairman and chief executive of Macy's, Inc.
- February 2024: retired; succeeded by Tony Spring
When his retirement was announced in March 2023, Gennette said that serving Macy's, Inc. over the past 40 years had been a privilege and pointed to the execution of the Polaris strategy as a source of pride.
Influence on the fashion business
Gennette led Macy's through one of the most difficult periods for American department stores, marked by store closures, the growth of e-commerce and the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Polaris strategy, developed under his leadership, was designed to return the group to sustainable and profitable growth, and Gennette later described its execution as the achievement he was proudest of. For fashion brands that rely on department store wholesale in the United States, Macy's strategy under Gennette shaped assortments, margins and the balance between physical and online distribution.
Jeff Gennette and technology
His 2015 remit explicitly combined stores and digital channels, reflecting Macy's push to run its business as an omnichannel operation rather than separate store and online divisions. Merchandise planning and marketing across both channels sat under his responsibility, an early example of a large American department store treating digital as part of its core merchandising organisation.
Why it matters
Jeff Gennette's career is a reference point for how traditional department stores have tried to reinvent themselves. His Polaris plan and the orderly handover to Tony Spring framed the next phase of Macy's as it continues to adapt to changing consumer habits.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jeff Gennette?
Jeff Gennette is the former chairman and chief executive of Macy's, Inc. He spent about 40 years with the company and retired in February 2024.
Who replaced Jeff Gennette at Macy's?
Tony Spring succeeded Jeff Gennette as chief executive of Macy's, Inc. when Gennette retired in February 2024.