Macy’s Big Executive Shakeup

Macy’s is making personnel moves with an eye towards omnichannel.

The retailer announced this week that Chief Innovation and Business Development Officer Peter Sachse is taking on the new role of chief growth officer, effective immediately. Reporting to Macy’s, Inc. President Jeff Gennette, Sachse will oversee all merchandising, as well as Macy’s Backstage, Bluemercury and international expansion in his new role.

On Monday (Feb. 1), Justin S. MacFarlane — formerly senior vice president for corporate strategy at ANN INC — joined Macy’s in the new position of chief strategy, analytics and innovation officer. Also reporting to Gennette, MacFarlane will be a member of the company’s executive committee and will be responsible for the retailer’s strategic development, consumer and customer research, data analysis, innovation and the development of future new business opportunities.

“These two new positions will enable us to move farther and faster in stimulating profitable sales growth in our company. Each role is critical to our ability to position the company’s brands for success in a consumer marketplace that continues to evolve in profound new directions for omnichannel retailing,” Terry J. Lundgren, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc., stated in a press release.

“Peter Sachse now will lead the development of a holistic view of our businesses, with expanded opportunities as we approach customers via stores, mobile and digital across Macy’s, Macy’s Backstage and Bluemercury,” stated Gennette in the release. “Justin MacFarlane will expand our capabilities in strategy development and execution, while adding significant new expertise in our ongoing quest to understand and respond to consumer behavior, as well as analyze our deep reservoir of proprietary data about how, when, where and why customers are shopping — both today and as we look into the future.”