Penney Appoints Eckerd Exec

JCPenney Co. (Plano, Texas) named Wayne Harris chairman and ceo of its Eckerd drugstore chain. The 60-year-old Harris was most recently chairman and ceo of Grand Union Co., a Wayne, N.J.-based supermarket chain. He spent 30 of his 38 career years with Kroger (Cincinnati).

The Eckerd post has been open since Frank Newman left to take on a ceo position with more.com Inc., an Internet retailer of health and beauty products. Harris will begin his new job on October 2, facing many challenges. Eckerd has closed 289 stores this year due to poor sales.