Harlan M. Kent Named President of Alex and Ani

Harlan M. Kent has been named president of jewelry and accessories firm Alex and Ani LLC. Kent is the former chief executive officer of Yankee Candle. During his 13-year tenure there, the company grew 2.5 times under his leadership, Alex and Ani said. He left in 2014 and went to join the now defunct C. Wonder, an apparel retailer that was owned by Burch Creative Capital, as ceo. His previous experience includes marketing and sales leadership roles with Totes Isotoner, Olin Corp. and the Campbell Soup Co. He began his career at Bain & Co., and has served on the boards of A.T. Cross and Rue 21. He is on the board of both P.F. Chang’s and the Savory Spice Shop. Carolyn Rafaelian, founder and ceo of Alex and Ani, said: “[Harlan’s] passion for creating relevancy in quality-infused products, stewarding authentic brand building and developing high-performance teams fits perfectly within the Alex and Ani culture and the strategic direction we envision for the company.”

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Kent Foster to Retire from J.C. Penney’s Board

Kent B. Foster will retire from the board of directors of J.C. Penney Co. Inc. at the end of his term, which concludes May 15 at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. Foster, who joined Penney’s board in August 1998, is the former chairman of Ingram Micro Inc., and also served as president and vice chairman of the board at GTE Corp. Foster previously chaired Penney’s audit committee and currently chairs the human resources and compensation committee and is a member of the corporate governance committee. “Kent’s extensive experience in communications and technology has enabled J. C. Penney to identify opportunities in digital retailing and operational efficiency. His guidance has been instrumental to enhancing the customer experience at J.C. Penney,” said Myron E. “Mike” Ullman III, chief executive officer. According to an 8-K filing, Foster’s decision not to stand for re-election “was not the result of any disagreement with the company or the board of directors.”

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