Ron Johnson’s 17-month tenure as J.C. Penney’s CEO was a catastrophe — an assessment captured in the coverage of his ouster this week: “Former Apple Retail Guru Dumped;” “How Ron Johnson Made JCPenney Even Worse;” and my favorite: “I Am Become Ron Johnson, Destroyer of Worlds.” It’s true. Under Johnson’s leadership, Penney’s share price plunged by half and the company lost $4 billion in sales.
What Ron Johnson Got Right
The ousted J.C. Penney chief understood the importance of intuition.
April 11, 2013
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation and Creativity. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Unlock your team's curiosity and willingness to take smart risks.