Mary Beth Stone West Joins JCPenney Board of Directors; Accomplished Kraft Foods Executive Brings Talent and Innovative Focus in Consumer Marketing to JCPenney Board

Business Wire, Nov 17, 2005

PLANO, Texas -- J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP) announced that Mary Beth Stone West, a highly accomplished consumer marketing executive, has joined the Company's Board of Directors, effective today. Ms. Stone West is group vice president and president, Kraft Foods North America Grocery segment.

Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Ms. Stone West has distinguished herself as a leader in consumer marketing. Her experience in developing innovative programs to support and expand some of the best known American brands will be of significant value to our Board. We look forward to Ms. Stone West's advice while we work to build an emotional connection with our customer, continually enhance the presence and strength of our brands, and reinforce that 'it's all inside' at JCPenney."

Ms. Stone West added, "I am delighted to join the Board of JCPenney as the company carries out its plan to be one of the top retailers in the country in terms of performance and execution. The JCPenney brand, the merchandise it offers and the shopping experience have made the company a leader in the department store business. The company's commitment to its customers, employees, stockholders and the communities in which it operates has established it as a great corporate citizen. I am honored to be involved in the next phase of JCPenney's growth and success."

Ms. Stone West, 43, began her career in consumer marketing in 1986 at the Maxwell House coffee business of General Foods Corporation, which later came together with Kraft. At Kraft, the largest food and beverage company in North America and second largest in the world, she has served in numerous positions of increasing seniority, including vice president, Business Development, and senior vice president and general manager of the Meals Division. In late 2004, she was named to her current position, group vice president and president, Kraft Foods North America Grocery segment, with revenue of approximately $2.4 billion and responsibility for leading brands including Jell-O, Kraft salad dressing, Miracle Whip, A.1. and Cool Whip.

In 2005, Ms. Stone West was named to Black MBA magazine's "50 under 50." Previously, in 2002, she was listed as one of the "Next Generation of Minority Business Leaders" in Minority MBA magazine and was named the "Distinguished Executive" of the year by the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. One year earlier, she appeared on the list of "40 under 40" in Crain's Chicago Business.

Ms. Stone West has a B.S. degree in management from Nazareth College and an MBA in marketing from Columbia University. She is active in several charitable organizations in the Chicago area.

About JCPenney

J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., the wholly owned operating subsidiary of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., is one of America's largest department store, catalog, and e-commerce retailers, employing approximately 150,000 associates. As of October 29, 2005, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. operated 1,017 JCPenney department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. JCPenney is the nation's largest catalog merchant of general merchandise, and jcpenney.com is one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the Internet.