J. C. Penney Company, Inc. comparable store sales increased 1.2 % for the four-week period ended Feb. 27, 2010. In last year's February period, comparable store sales decreased 8.8%. Total Company sales in February increased 1.5%. For the four week period ended Feb. 27, 2010, total company sales were $1.18 billion against $1.165 billion for the same period a year ago.

Myron Ullman, Chairman and CEO of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has said that the "preferred method" for growth would be to build brands. He however said that the company may consider acquiring brands at some point.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. announced the promotion of John J. Tighe to senior vice president and general merchandise manager of its Home business. Mr. Tighe, who has nearly 20 years of merchandising experience, will also join the Company's Executive Board. Mr. Tighe will report to Steven Lawrence, executive vice president and senior general merchandise manager of the Men's and Children's Divisions who has now also assumed responsibility for JCPenney's Home business. Elizabeth H. Sweney, executive vice president and senior general merchandise manager, will continue to lead Women's Apparel, Women's Accessories and Shoes and will now have responsibility for Fine Jewelry as well. Pam Mortensen, senior vice president and general merchandise manager, will now report to Ms. Sweney. Jeffrey J. Allison, who was recently named to lead the Home and Fine Jewelry businesses, has left the Company for personal reasons. John Tighe, 41, was previously senior vice president of jcp.com, with responsibility for driving strategy, business planning and execution and improving the overall brand and customer experience for the site, which is one of the largest apparel and home furnishing destinations on the Internet. He joined JCPenney in 2002 and was named divisional merchandise manager for Junior Sportswear two years later. He had previously spent 10 years at Filene's in a series of merchandising roles of increasing responsibility. Pam Mortensen, 55, joined JCPenney in July from Wal-Mart, where she had served as vice president and divisional merchandise manager of the Fine Jewelry and Watch division since 2002. Prior to that, Ms. Mortensen spent five years as vice president, divisional merchandise manager in Home, for Service Merchandise. She had previously spent 12 years as a senior buyer in the Bailey Banks and Biddle division of Zale. She began her career as a buyer at Sanger-Harris Federated Department Stores, where she spent 12 years. Steve Lawrence will lead other major divisions, with a commitment to delivering affordable style across Men's, Children's and Home offerings.

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