Michelle Wlazlo

Michelle Wlazlo is the Chief Executive Officer for JCPenney. Wlazlo joined the company in March 2019 as Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer, and also served as Chief Merchandising and Supply Chain Officer before taking the role of CEO in 2025, when JCPenney became part of Catalyst Brands. 

Wlazlo has more than 30 years of merchandising and stores experience from a variety of retailers. In her time at JCPenney, she led the charge in clarifying and defining the positioning of the company's private brands to give customers more choice. Wlazlo led the launch of multiple private brands, including Mutual Weave, Linden Street and Thereabouts, while driving the relaunch of our leading private brands, including a.n.a, Cooks, and Liz Claiborne. She also Wlazlo pioneered the launch of JCPenney Beauty, expanding from initial launch in 2021 to all stores today.

Prior to joining JCPenney, Wlazlo served as Senior Vice President, merchandising over apparel and accessories, baby gear and essentials at Target Corporation. Before Target, Wlazlo spent 19 years at GAP, Inc., in a variety of roles for Gap, Gap Outlet and Old Navy. She began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue in Minneapolis before assuming roles as store manager and buyer at Bebe Stores, Inc.

Wlazlo attended Lowthian College in Minneapolis and the Executive Education Program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. She currently serves on the board of the Fashion Scholarship Fund.