J.Jill Inc. has appointed Kimberly Wallengren, formerly with Coach, senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
“In this role, Wallengren will help advance the company’s next phase of growth by evolving brand positioning, expanding customer reach and deepening consumer engagement,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. The company also said that through Wallengren’s appointment, it’s “formalizing its marketing leadership structure, bringing brand, creative and marketing together under a unified executive leader.”
J.Jill represents a segment of the apparel business that caught a tailwind after the pandemic as people were returning to work at their offices. The Quincy, Mass.-based retailer sells apparel, footwear and accessories under its own label, primarily caters to middle-aged and older women, and operates about 250 stores nationwide and an e-commerce platform.
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Wallengren’s appointment marks another move by Mary Ellen Coyne to reshape the brand’s senior management team since she became J.Jill’s president and chief executive officer in May 2025. In November 2025, Viv Rettke, a veteran of leading growth and transformation strategies at Cole Haan and Reebok, became chief growth officer. Also, Courtney O’Connor, a former Club Monaco, Public Clothing Company and Ralph Lauren executive, was named senior vice president and chief merchandising officer last June. J.Jill’s last head of marketing was Kara Howard.
Said Coyne in a statement: “Kimberly brings a strong track record of leading marketing strategies that both attract new audiences and strengthen engagement with existing customers. She has a deep understanding of today’s consumer and a proven ability to translate these insights into impactful campaigns and more effective ways to reach and engage customers, which will be critical as we support our next phase of growth.”
“This brand has a strong foundation and a clear opportunity to connect with both existing and new customers in meaningful ways,” Wallengren said.
Wallengren most recently served as vice president of marketing for Coach in North America where she is credited with playing a key role in expanding the brand’s customer base, evolving its positioning to resonate with a broader, more diverse audience, while maintaining strong engagement with its core customer. She led initiatives across partnerships and digital platforms, including with the WNBA and campaigns within gaming environments such as The Sims 4 and Roblox.
Prior to Coach, Wallengren served as head of marketing for American Eagle’s AE77 sustainable premium denim brand, leading business and marketing strategy as well as customer acquisition and retention efforts. Before American Eagle, she held leadership roles at Adidas and New Balance, where she led marketing campaigns, developed global strategies, and built consumer engagement.
Last year was challenging for J.Jill. Net sales decreased 2.3 percent to $596.5 million; operating income was $50.6 million versus $75.7 million the year before, and net income was $27.9 million compared to $39.5 million the year before.
In the fourth quarter, net income declined to $2.2 million from $4.8 million the year earlier, the operating loss was $200,000 compared to income of $5.1 million the year before, and net sales decreased 3.1 percent to $138.4 million from $142.8 million for the year-ago period.
