James Starke

An innovative and visionary business leader with a proven track record of driving multi-channel merchandising results while capturing top and bottom-line growth in a disruptive retail environment. Excels in gathering and analyzing data/market insights, identifying consumer trends and demands to craft strategies that produce sustainable gains for multibillion-dollar business segments. Cultivates strategic partnerships with supplier community and internal senior decision-makers while also identifying, securing, and launching high-profile celebrity brands and marketing campaigns. Effectively coaches large teams’ companywide. Core Competencies: - Omni Channel Business Approach - Customer centric - Retail Management - P&L Management - Brand Building - National Brands - Private Brands - Sourcing - Product Development - Celebrity Deals and Brand Building - Financial Planning - Merchandising - Apparel - Home Furnishings - Accessories - Team Building and Development - Succession Planning - Vendor Relationships - Marketing - Strategic Vision - Mentoring - Negotiations - Board of Directors Presentations SELECT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: • Directed and executed vision for JCPenney’s Men’s, Kid’s Jewelry, and Home business line, representing 53% of the company’s total sales value; owned P&L for $6.4B revenue across 875 stores and e-commerce platform: JCP.com. • Negotiated and launched high-profile celebrity deals to raise brand awareness and drive business gains in Men’s and Kid’s categories. Rolled out the Michael Strahan product line in 2015, growing sales from $5M at launch to $75M forecast by EOY 2020, and secured a Shaquille O’ Neal contract in 2017, improving special size business 700bp+ within one year. • Drove innovation for the client, including successfully relaunching the Kid’s business line to achieve the highest apparel comp in 2018 and negotiating an exclusive brick and mortar Fanatics deal. Also, championed process improvements that reduced product development timeline from 44 weeks to 38 weeks companywide. • Earned Merchant Merchants Award from MR Magazine in 2018, the Fashion Industry “Change Agent” WWD in 2017, and two Founders Awards through JCPenney for excellence in leadership and achieving top 10% business performance. • Excelled in cultivating the next generation of company leaders and inspiring talent to career advancement; mentored individuals promoted to Senior Vice President (three), Vice Presidents (six), and Directors (dozens) since 2015.