Sharen Jester Turney - Victoria Secret Ceo

Sharen Jester Turney was president and CEO of Victoria's Secret, a $7 billion company, the largest retailer of intimate apparel, and the largest subsidiary of L Brands Inc (formerly Limited Brand Inc). In 2013, Bloomberg named Jester Turney the fourth highest compensated female executive in the United States.

Career

Turney attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education with a minor in public relations. Upon graduation in 1979, she began her career as a buyer for Foley's, a department store chain in Houston, Texas.

Following stints at Byer California and Federated Department Stores, Turney joined Neiman Marcus, where she became executive vice president of merchandising and then senior vice president and general merchandise manager. She finished her career at Neiman Marcus as president and CEO of NM Direct, the company's e-commerce and catalog division, Horchow Catalog and Chefs Catalog. In 2000, she became the CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct, the e-commerce and catalog division of the successful women's apparel and lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret.

In July 2006, Turney was promoted to President and CEO of Victoria's Secret. As CEO, she has overseen an increase in total sales revenue from $4.5 billion to over $7 billion in 2015. Victoria's Secret is currently the largest subsidiary of L Brands Inc at 40% of total revenue.

Awards and recognition

In 2015, Sharen Jester Turney was inducted into the state of Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed on an Oklahoman. Watch the induction ceremony on PBS here.

In March 2014 Glassdoor included Sharen Turney "America's Favorite Bosses" CEO ranking list (she was one of only two women to make the list). In March 2013, Turney was the only female CEO in the Top 50 of Glassdoor's "America's Favorite Bosses" list. In 2011, Turney ranked in the Top 10 of the Glassdoor's ten most popular retail CEOs.

In 2005, Turney received the Dr. Catherine White Achievement Award from HeartShare Human Services in New York City. In 2009, she received the H.U.G. Award from the Intimate Apparel Square Club (IASC) in honor of her participation in raising funds for pediatric charities. In 2013, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the business education department at the University of Oklahoma, her alma mater. During her time at the university, she was a member of the Delta Gamma fraternity.

Personal life and philanthropy

Turney was born in 1957 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and grew up on a farm to a cattle rancher father and nutritionist mother. She has been married for over 25 years to her husband Charles and they have a son, Matthew. The family currently resides in New Albany, Ohio, splitting time between residences in Manhattan and Florida.

Turney serves on several boards and committees. She is on the Board of Directors for Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is also a board member for Nationwide Children's Hospital's Center for Family Safety and Healing. Turney is also part of the Industry Advisory Committee for the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center in the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a board member for the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence. For Turney, giving back personally and through the company she represents is a way of life.

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