Sharen Jester Turney (née Jester) is a global business leader, and former president and CEO of Victoria's Secret (before 2019),[1] a $7.7 billion company of which she led for a decade doubling the profit and increasing sales by 70%,[2][3] Victoria's Secret is the largest retailer of intimate apparel, and the largest subsidiary of L Brands Inc (formerly Limited Brands Inc).[4] In 2013, Bloomberg named Jester Turney the fourth highest compensated female executive in the United States.[5] In February 2016, she stepped down as CEO of Victoria's Secret after serving for a decade in that role and the previous six years as President and CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct.[6][7]

Sharen Jester Turney
Born
Sharen Jester

NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Oklahoma
OccupationGlobal Business Leader
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Charles Turney
(m. 1989)
Children1
Websitesharenjesterturney.com

Career

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Turney attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education with a minor in public relations.[8] Upon graduation in 1979, she began her career as a buyer for Foley's, a department store chain in Houston, Texas.[9][10]

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.[11][12] 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.[8][13]

In July 2006, Turney was promoted to President and CEO of Victoria's Secret.[8][13][14] As CEO, she has overseen an increase in total sales revenue from $4.5 billion[10] to over $7.7 billion[2] and more than doubled the profit in 2015. Victoria's Secret is currently the largest subsidiary of L Brands Inc at 40% of total revenue.[4] She resigned as CEO of Victoria's Secret in February 2016.[15]

Turney serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Oklahoma Foundation and the Board of Directors for Bread Financial and Academy Sports + Outdoors in North America and NewStore in the US and Europe. She serves on the Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative advisory board at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Turney served as chairman of the board of directors for the Turney served as chairman of the board of directors for the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital,[16] was on the board of directors for both Nationwide Children's Hospital and The James Cancer Hospital, and was an eight-year board of directors member for M/I Homes, Inc.

Turney's advisory roles in retail, technology, and philanthropy span the globe, including London based Marks and Spencer, Gloria Jeans in Russia, Cosmo Lady in China, Clovia and IvyCap Ventures in India, Sweden based global brand Happy Socks, Full Beauty Brands in New York; ProQuo AI in New York and the UK, Paycom in the US; and among others, Catholic Relief Services in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Nepal with a commitment to helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan and Cristo Rey Columbus college-preparatory high school with a professional work-study program. She is also actively involved with The Center for Family Safety and Healing.

In December 2018, Turney becomes interim CEO of private apparel company, Gloria Jeans.

Awards and recognition

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In November 2023 Sharen Jester Turney hosted the Oklahoma Hall of Fame 96th Annual Ceremony where she Emceed as Masters of Ceremonies and Oklahoma Hall of Fame Member along with fellow honoree Dr. Pamela McCauley.Watch

In 2018, Sharen Jester Turney received the University of Oklahoma's Celebration of Education Award of Distinction, the college's highest honor, presented to alumni, friends or advocates of education who have achieved state, national or international distinction in their fields of endeavor. The event raises money for scholarships to the university.[17]

In 2016, Turney was honored at the Way to Win Gala in New York for her support of the organizations work to assist homeless women and children on their journey toward independence. The event is Way to Win's largest annual fundraiser.[18]

In 2015, Sharen Jester Turney was inducted into the state of Oklahoma Hall of Fame,[19] 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).[20][21] In March 2013, Turney was the only female CEO in the Top 50 of Glassdoor's "America's Favorite Bosses" list.[22][23] In 2011, Turney ranked in the Top 10 of the Glassdoor's ten most popular retail CEOs.[23]

In 2005, Turney received the Dr. Catherine White Achievement Award from HeartShare Human Services in New York City.[9] 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.[24] In 2013, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the business education department at the University of Oklahoma, her alma mater.[25] During her time at the university, she was a member of the Delta Gamma fraternity.[26]

In 2004, Sharen Turney accepted the Femmy Award from The Underfashion Club[27]

In 1997 and while at Neiman Marcus, Turney received the distinguished Fashion Medal of Honor.[28]

Personal life and philanthropy

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Turney was born in 1956 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and grew up on a farm to a cattle rancher father and teacher and nutritionist mother.[8] She has been married since 1989 to her husband Charles and they have a son, Matthew, who was born in 1994.[10]

Turney serves on several boards and committees. She is on the Board of Trustees for the University of Oklahoma Foundation,[29] on the Board of Directors for Nationwide Children's Hospital.[30] She is also Chairman of the Research Institute for Nationwide Children's Hospital.[16] Turney is also part of the Industry Advisory Committee for the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.[31] For Turney, giving back personally and through the companies she represents is a way of life.[32]

A few of Sharen Jester Turney's generous giving includes The James at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.[33][34] her alma mater University of Oklahoma,[35] and Nationwide Children's Hospital. In addition, Turney has established scholarships for young girls education in the United States and abroad.

References

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  1. ^ "LES WEXNER TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP OF VICTORIA'S SECRET AFTER RESIGNATION OF CEO SHAREN JESTER TURNEY". L Brands. 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  2. ^ a b "L Brands - Home - Les Wexner to Assume Leadership of Victoria's Secret After Resignation of CEO Sharen Jester Turney". www.lb.com. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  3. ^ Hanbury, Mary. "The rise and fall of Victoria's Secret, America's most famous lingerie retailer". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  4. ^ a b Yahoo! Fianace Industry Center. "Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC Company Profile", Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  5. ^ Murray, Brent. "The 15 Highest-Paid Female Top Executives", Bloomberg.com, 19 August 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Les Wexner to take over CEO role". The Wall Street Journal. 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  7. ^ "L Brands - Les Wexner to Assume Leadership of Victoria's Secret After Resignation of CEO Sharen Jester Turney". www.lb.com. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  8. ^ a b c d Warlick, Heather. "Oklahoma native and Victoria's Secret CEO Sharen Jester Turney to speak at OU symposium", The Oklahoman, 9 April 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  9. ^ a b L Brands Inc Executive Profile. "Sharen Jester Turney", Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b c Eckert, Christy. "The secret behind the sexy", Capital Style, 2 November 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  11. ^ Williamson, Rusty. "NM Direct taps Turney as president, Chief exec.", Women's Wear Daily (WWD), Vol. 177 Issue 54, p2.
  12. ^ Burch, Kate. "Sharen Jester, OU alumnus and CEO of Victoria's Secret, to speak at OU's Price College of Business", University of Oklahoma Press Release, 19 April 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  13. ^ a b Forbes Executive Profiles. "Sharen Turney", Forbes.com. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  14. ^ Merrick, Amy. "Apparently, you can be too sexy", The Wall Street Journal, 29 February 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  15. ^ Wahba, Phil. "Investors Rattled After Victoria's Secret CEO Quits Suddenly". Fortune. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  16. ^ a b "Executive Leadership". www.nationwidechildrens.org. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  17. ^ oueducation (2018-06-14), 2018 Celebration of Education in Oklahoma – Sharen Jester Turney, retrieved 2018-10-02
  18. ^ Moin, Kristen Tauer,David (2016-05-13). "WIN Spring Gala Honors Sharen Jester Turney, Edward J. Menicheschi". WWD. Retrieved 2018-10-02.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Gaylord-Pickens Museum, home of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame". www.oklahomahof.com. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  20. ^ "America's Best Bosses". Forbes. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  21. ^ Olson, Elizabeth. "A Ranking of Top Executives by Their Employees". New York Times Dealbook. Retrieved 13 May 2014. There were only two women on the list. Sharen Turney, at Victoria's Secret, was listed at No. 35, with an 85 percent rating.
  22. ^ Booton, Jennifer. "Facebook's Zuckerberg Highest Rated CEO, Apple's Cook Falls to 18". Fox News. Retrieved 13 May 2014. Sharen Turney, head of Victoria's Secret, a business of Limited Brands (LTD), was the only female top executive to crack the top 50, with an 82% approval rating and a rank of 42.
  23. ^ a b Giang, Vivian. "There's Only One Woman On Glassdoor's Best-Loved CEO List". Business Insider.
  24. ^ "The HUG Award Past Honorees", thehugaward.org. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  25. ^ Anglin, Lori Johnston. "'Giving With Style' symposium features Victoria's Secret CEO", University of Oklahoma Press Release, 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  26. ^ "Notable DGS - Delta Gamma".
  27. ^ "Femmy – The Underfashion Club, Inc". Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  28. ^ "Footwear News". Footwear News. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  29. ^ "OU Foundation Board of Trustees". oufoundation.org. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  30. ^ "Nationwide Children's Hospital 2013 Full Board Listing", Nationwide Children's Hospital, 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013."
  31. ^ "Jay H. Baker Retailing Center Industry Advisory Board" Archived 2015-03-15 at the Wayback Machine, "Wharton School, 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  32. ^ Sharen Jester Turney Philanthropy Site, Sharen Jester Turney Giving Philosophy, July, 2014
  33. ^ "Cancer care, treatment & research experts | OSUCCC – James". The James - OSUCCC. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  34. ^ Center, Foundation. "OSU Cancer Center Receives $1 Million Gift From Turney Family". Philanthropy News Digest (PND). Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  35. ^ "OU Receives Major Gift in Support of Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education". www.ou.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-05.