Change the Life of a Student and Watch the Future of Retailing Catch Fire
"Because of our shared vision and common values, I am proud to lend my name to the University of Arizona’s excellent Center for Retailing, producing young professionals who are shaping the retail world of tomorrow. Join us in our mission to attract the smartest, most creative and driven students and invest in our own success."
Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Retired , Macy’s, Inc.
Terry J. Lundgren's Commitment to Students
What might have been something ordinary – the invitation to a successful alum to return to his alma mater – turned out to be a moment of something extraordinary – one that has taken Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Macy's Inc, and the University of Arizona's Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing on a transforming journey. In 2005, faculty in the John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences chose to honor this retailing executive by naming their top-flight retailing center afte him. Terry, an UArizona alumnus, came to campus in 1995 to speak to the students, with an inspiring presentation, “From Campus to CEO”, which drew hundreds of students. Since then, Terry and Macy’s Inc. have been outstanding partners; Terry has personally established scholarships, many students have benefited from his generosity, and Macy’s supported the creation of a career service center in the new Student Union.
Since 1995, Terry has been invited here to receive an honorary doctoral degree and to serve as a commencement speaker, and more recently, to receive the UArizona's oldest and most prestigious alumni award, again at the May commencement. Terry made a substantial financial gift in support of the Norton School building campaign. Through his generous gift, not only has he helped to keep our academic standards high, but also, by example, he has encouraged others to help preserve America’s tradition of private support for higher education. The naming of the Center is more than a namesake; it symbolizes the unifying of this exemplary individual with this special program because both share the same goal – to accomplish something extraordinary with respect to educating our future students for the retail industry. For the University of Arizona, to name the center in his honor is to celebrate the life and contributions of his leadership and a legacy that will be passed on in perpetuity to future generations.
About Terry J. Lundgren
Terry Lundgren served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Macy’s, Inc. for 14 years before retiring as the company’s Executive Chairman in January 2018. He also served as President of Macy’s, Inc. and its Chief Merchandising Officer. Previously, Lundgren also was Chairman and CEO of Neiman Marcus. Lundgren began his retailing career in 1975 as a trainee with Bullock’s, a Los Angeles-based division of Federated Department Stores, Inc. (now Macy’s, Inc.). Over the course of his career, he has had responsibility for functions including merchandising, private brand development, store management and human resources. His numerous honors include receiving the National Retail Federation’s Gold Medal Award, considered the retailing industry’s most prestigious recognition.
Prior to serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he served as President & Chief Operating Officer, a title he assumed in March 2003 after having served as President & Chief Merchandising Officer since May 1997. Macy's, Inc. is the parent company of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, and was known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. prior to June 1, 2007.
At Bullock's, he held positions of increasing responsibility over a decade in buying, store management, human resources and senior-level store management, as well as serving as the division's Director of Stores. He was named Senior Vice President and General Merchandising Manager of Bullock's in 1984. In 1987, he was named President and CEO of Bullocks Wilshire, then an upscale chain of specialty department stores owned by Federated.
He left Federated after its acquisition by Campeau in 1988, joining Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas, where he served as Executive Vice President and shortly thereafter was named Chairman & CEO. He returned to Federated in April of 1994 as Chairman & CEO of the Federated Merchandising Group. Through significant acquisitions over the following 18-months, Federated more than doubled its size.
In his capacity as Chief Merchandising Officer, Lundgren was credited with effectively easing the merger of Federated's and Macy's merchandising functions, and initiating the strategic development and marketing of a strengthened private brand program within Federated.
As Chief Executive Officer, he led Federated's acquisition of The May Department Stores Company in August 2005, again nearly doubling the size of the company. Today, Macy's is a premier national retailer with more than 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Lundgren is a native of Long Beach, CA, and a graduate of the University of Arizona where he gave the commencement address to the graduating class of 2000 and was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He was also awarded the honorary Doctor of Commercial Sciences degree from Suffolk University in 2001. He has been presented with many business recognition awards and has served as dinner chairman or as honoree for numerous retail industry organizations and charities, including Carnegie Hall, MoMA, BRAG, the Fresh Air Fund, American Jewish Committee, Breast Cancer Research Fund, NOW Legal Defense, Parsons School, Fashion Institute of Technology and the Ovarian Cancer Society. He currently serves on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, The Procter & Gamble Company, Carnegie Hall and the National Retail Federation (NRF). He is a former board member of Kraft Foods Inc. and has participated in numerous charitable and civic efforts. He has served as co-chairman of the Partnership for New York City, Chairman of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Chairman of the National Retail Federation, Chairman of the American Society of Corporate Executives, and is currently Chairman of the Economic Club of New York.
Terry J. Lundgren has two daughters and resides in New York City with his wife, Tina.