Ken Hicks is president and chief merchandising officer for J. C. Penney Company, Inc., one of America’s largest department store, catalog and e-commerce retailers.

Mr. Hicks was elected to his current position in January 2005. From July 2002 to 2005, he was president and chief operating officer of JCPenney stores and merchandise operations.  Before joining JCPenney, he was president of Payless ShoeSource from 1999 to 2002, where he held responsibility for all elements of merchandising, marketing, product distribution, and direct product development and sourcing for 4,900 stores in 7 countries.  Prior to that, Mr. Hicks was executive vice president and general merchandise manager of all merchandising and programming for the Home Shopping Network. From 1987 to 1998, he held senior management and merchandising positions for May Department Stores, including senior vice president of strategic planning and general merchandise manager for several divisions.  From 1982 to 1987, he was a senior engagement manager for McKinsey and Company Consultants.

Hicks graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY and served in the U. S. Army, attaining the rank of captain.  After leaving the Army, he earned an MBA with highest honors from Harvard University.

Hicks serves on the boards of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., Avery Dennison Corporation, the National 4-H Council and Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. He and his wife, Lucy Boland Hicks, are originally from Houston.