J.Jill Hires President/CEO

Women’s apparel brand J.Jill Inc. (Quincy, Mass.) has named Mary Ellen Coyne President and CEO, effective May 1. She will replace Claire Spofford, who announced her retirement in December and will step down on April 30.

“Mary Ellen’s extensive experience in the retail industry, combined with her proven track record of driving growth and strategic transformation, makes her the ideal leader to take J.Jill into its next phase,” said Board Chairman Michael Rahamim. “Her recent success as CEO of J.McLaughlin and her impactful tenure at Ralph Lauren speaks to her ability to build and scale businesses, enhance customer experience, and deliver shareholder value. We are thrilled to welcome her to the J.Jill family.”

Coyne has over three decades of experience in the retail sector. Most recently, she served as CEO of J.McLaughlin, an apparel, bags and shoes retailer, where she oversaw the expansion its retail footprint, enhanced its e-commerce capabilities, elevated its product and entered new product categories. Prior to that, Coyne held various executive roles at Ralph Lauren, including Chief Merchandising Officer of Women’s and Children’s.

“I am honored to join J.Jill at such a pivotal time in its journey,” said Coyne. “J.Jill’s commitment to providing high-quality, versatile apparel that resonates with the consumer aligns perfectly with my passion for creating meaningful customer experiences. I am excited to work with the talented team at J.Jill to continue building on the brand’s strong heritage and drive its future growth.”

J.Jill is a national lifestyle brand that sells apparel, footwear and accessories. It has about 200 stores.