“As our Company continues to transform, we must continue to look at the organization to ensure we have the right structures to ensure efficiency and productivity. I wanted to let you all know that as a result, Ed Robben’s position has been eliminated. I know you will join me in wishing him all the best in his future endeavors and thanking him for all of his contributions to JCP,” the memo read. JCP did not return calls and messages seeking comment.
The source who provided the memo was a JCP employee wondering “where’d the CIO go? He just got here.” Robben, according to his LinkedIn page, held the post for just over a year. He did not respond to inquiries for comment sent via Facebook and LinkedIn.
Nervousness over future lay-offs prevails in the IT department, which has been pared back over the years due to outsourcing, according to the source, who estimated that what was a 2,000-person department is now about 900-1,100.
She also directed the supply chain, international retail and global technology at Apple and served in “merchandising, planning and allocation” roles at Planet Hollywood, Walt Disney and Victoria’s Secret. “She is a member of the National Retail Federation’s CIO Council and a Governing Body Member of the CIO Summit, among other leadership roles in CIO-focused organizations,” according to the press release.
Given JCP’s cost-cutting mood, it’s safe to assume there’s little room for both a CTO and a CIO.
