Ex-Apple execs exit JCPenney
It’s official: Apple is out of fashion at JCPenney.
Three top proteges of former Penney CEO Ron Johnson — all of whom boasted stints at Apple on their resumes — exited the retailer today, The Post has learned.
Chief Operating Officer Mike Kramer, Chief Talent Officer Daniel Walker and Chief Creative Officer Mike Fisher kicked off an exodus of high-profile Johnson hires that is expected to continue in the wake of his ouster, sources said.
Kramer — who said publicly earlier this year that he “hated the culture” at Penney — resigned as interim CEO Mike Ullman this week began to sharpen his ax, according to a source close to the retailer.
“He left on his own, maybe he saw the writing on the wall,” one insider said of Kramer.
Walker — who as chief talent officer for Penney lured numerous senior execs from Apple with fat salaries and signing bonuses — also left the troubled retailer, sources said.
Fisher — an alum of Target and Apple who rose quickly under Johnson last year to become chief creative officer — is out as well.
It’s not clear whether Walker and Fisher were fired or left voluntarily.
Penney officials didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kramer had received an eye-popping signing bonus of $33.4 million when he joined Penney, while Walker’s signing bonus was $20.2 million, according to securities filings.
But with Penney’s results tanking badly last year, their compensation sank to about $1 million, and $731,000, respectively.

