J. Jill hires Coach veteran Kimberly Wallengren as chief marketing officer

✴︎

5.3.2026

Quick Facts

Kimberly Wallengren joins from Coach where she served as VP of marketing for North America
J. Jill net sales fell 2.3% to $596.5 million in fiscal 2025 with operating income dropping to $50.6 million from $75.7 million
The appointment is part of CEO Mary Ellen Coyne’s leadership team overhaul since taking over in May 2025

J. Jill named Kimberly Wallengren as senior vice president and chief marketing officer, effective April 27. Wallengren joins from Coach, where she served as VP of marketing for North America.

The Quincy, Massachusetts-based women’s apparel retailer is facing sales headwinds. Net sales dropped 2.3% to $596.5 million in fiscal 2025. Operating income fell to $50.6 million from $75.7 million the previous year. Comparable sales declined 4.8% in the fourth quarter.

At Coach, Wallengren led initiatives to broaden the luxury brand’s appeal. She spearheaded partnerships with the Women’s National Basketball Association and campaigns in gaming environments including The Sims 4 and Roblox. Before Coach, she headed marketing for American Eagle’s AE77 sustainable denim brand and spent 11 years at Adidas.

“Kimberly brings a strong track record of leading marketing strategies that both attract new audiences and strengthen engagement with existing customers,” said CEO Mary Ellen Coyne. “She has a proven ability to translate insights into impactful campaigns.”

The hire continues Coyne’s leadership team restructuring. In November 2025, she appointed Viv Rettke as chief growth officer. Courtney O’Connor joined as chief merchandising officer last June.

J. Jill operates about 250 stores nationwide and targets middle-aged and older women. The company projects net sales to be flat to down 2% in fiscal 2026. It expects comparable sales to decline 1% to 3%.

Direct-to-consumer sales increased 2.6% in the latest quarter, representing 53.5% of total revenue. However, the company faces continued price sensitivity and promotional pressure in the channel.

“We’re building the foundation for sustainable, profitable growth by expanding our customer file and modernizing our product offering,” Coyne said. The company anticipates $15 million in additional tariff costs this year.