J.Crew Snags Sur La Table CEO Billy May

J.Crew Group has appointed Billy May as its new chief customer officer for the J.Crew Brand, effective July 15. In his new position he will lead customer-facing aspects of the business and be responsible for advancing J.Crew's digital transformation across marketing, loyalty, stores, and e-commerce. He will report to Interim CEO Michael J. Nicholson.

"Billy's significant industry experience across a range of well-known consumer brands, and his track record of innovative leadership in omnichannel marketing will elevate customer engagement across our digital, mobile, and store channels," said Nicholson. "He brings a collaborative, integrated approach to brand development, and we are looking forward to partnering with him to return J.Crew to profitability and long-term growth."

May was most recently CEO of Sur La Table, a privately-held retailer based in Seattle. Previously, he was SVP and member of the executive leadership team at Abercrombie & Fitch, where he led marketing, direct-to-consumer, and corporate development globally. While at A&F, he established the company's digital presence, scaled its $1 billion e-commerce business, developed an integrated, omnichannel operating model, and launched two branded loyalty programs.

"Having spent my career building, scaling, and transforming global businesses, I'm humbled by the opportunity to work alongside J.Crew's leaders as a steward of this iconic brand," said May. "Customer experience is at the heart of any great retailer, and I am eager to work with this talented team to reignite the brand and more actively engage J.Crew's customers.