MACY’S NAMES CHERYL HEINONEN EVP OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

Macy’s, Inc. has announced that Cheryl Heinonen has been named executive vice president of corporate communications for the company, effective January 9, 2017.

Heinonen, a leading communications and public affairs professional, will be responsible for corporate communications (both internal and external), corporate giving, corporate social responsibility, diversity, and associate giving and volunteerism. She will report to Macy’s, Inc. president Jeff Gennette who becomes chief executive officer early next year. Heinonen will be based in New York City. In this new role, she will drive the strategic narrative of the company and integrate all internal communication into one cohesive strategy.

Heinonen is currently senior vice president, corporate relations and chief communications officer at Avon Products, Inc. where she is responsible for corporate communications, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability, responsibilities she has held since joining the company in 2012. In November 2014, Heinonen also assumed the presidency of the Avon Foundation for Women, a public 501c3 charity dedicated to improving the lives of women and their families globally with a focus on breast cancer and domestic violence. Heinonen will step down from her Avon Products, Inc. and Avon Foundation for Women roles effective January 1, 2017. She will remain on the Avon Foundation board when she begins her career at Macy’s.

“Cheryl brings valuable expertise to the Macy’s executive team,” said Gennette. “She is a strategic communicator with an outstanding track record of connecting companies in a powerful way to employees, customers and a broad range of stakeholders.”