Geoffrey Henning

Forward-thinking Senior Executive bringing 30 years of progressive experience in the fashion industry. Strategic and decisive leader with a growth-oriented mindset.

The mindset of innovation paired with human creativity allows for a Art + Science moment that drives brand relevancy and profitability.

Extremely successful in stepping into diverse positions and making immediate positive contributions. Focused in allowing individuals/ teams to think differently and unexplored to ensure creativity is the key driver to the organization. Thinking of what can be vs what are we today.

• Transformed multiple brands forward
• Launched new design business categories
• Spearheaded and built design organizations
• innovation / creative thinking / art science of design
• Motivate and inspire teams

• JCPENNEY, 6501 legacy drive DALLAS, TEXAS, 75208, DVP Womens Design: Apparel, Intimates, Shoes, Handbags, 11/2009 - Current, Lead team of over 100 designers for all categories of Womens Design for JCP: store, catalog and internet, brands: ANA, Worthington, Arizona, Decree,Nicole Miller, Cosmo, Flirtitude, JCP, St Johns Bay, East Fifth, Xersion: $1.80 billion, initiate and drive cross divisional business strategies, strategize on white space opportunities, drive the design esthetics for all design categories, spearhead new organizational design teams by expert categories of businesses., initiate and lead design trainee program, lead college design relationships, global travel for trend, production
• JCPENNEY, 6501 legacy drive, DALLAS, TEXAS, 75208, DVP Womens Modern Design, 11/2008 - 12/2009, lead all modern design team and categories of businesses: apparel, shoes, handbags, intimates, spearheaded all seasonal brand direction, trend, color, silhouette, global travel: trend, country offices, garment production, facilitated all cross divisional strategies, managed team of 55 design staff, brands: Worthington, ANA, Cosmo, Flirtitude, East Fifth, Nicole Miller, shoes/handbags,: $980 million, develop white space business opportunities/key item growth
• JCPENNEY, 6501 legacy drive, DALLAS, TEXAS, 75208, Design Director, 02/2002 - 12/2008, Direct the brand identity, seasonal direction and art/cad themes for Worthington, East fifth, ANA brands ( inclusive of apparel, shoes, handbags, accessories), Direct all design directors in their private brand directions ., $ 780 million total volume by brands., Direct entire design team of 40 designers across all categories of business with emphasis on color, fabric, seasonal trends, fittings, merchant relationships, corporate design presentations., Extensive global travel: design, production, fit, Corporate spokesperson for design for local and national media, tv fashion segments, ny fashion week, print media., Corporate spokesperson for design for national non profits org.
• NEWYORKANDCOMPANY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Design Director, 12/1996 - 01/2002, Define, develop and merchandise $350 million woven collections division, $120 million dress division., Implement brand strategy., Direct domestic and international textile research., Direct and develop print direction., Supervise all vendor merchandise fittings., Direct and supervise design team consisting of 22 design staff., Seasonal travel to Asia and Europe for trend/design and product development.
• YL BY YAIR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Designer, Sept 1994 - Sept 1996, Develop and executed bridge sportswear line by Y.L., Developed and executed private label division with major accounts including Ann Taylor, Talbots, I.Magnim, Neiman Marcus, Macy's., Conducted domestic and international fabric research with emphais on bridge price point., Supervised patterns and duplication line in New York and Hong Kong., Seasonal travel to Hong Kong, China, Korea and Euorpe.
• THEO MILES, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Designer, 02/1993 - 09/1994
• ALFRED SUNG DESIGN, TORONTO, CANADA, Designer, 10/1991 - 01/1993
• CLUB MONACO, TORONTO, CANADA, Designer, 01/1990 - 10/1991
• HOLT RENFREW, TORONTO/MONTREAL, CANADA, VISUAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR, 03/1987 - 01/1990

• Leadership/communication skills
• Product development
• Product line expansion
• New product delivery
• Brand building/transforming
• Creative expertise
• Trend forecasting
• Garment production/construction
• Brand positioning
• Corporate spokesperson for design

Ambitious and creative VP of Design who creates strategic alliances with organization leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives with focus on design.. Builds and retains high performance teams by hiring, developing and motivating skilled professional's with focus on passion and design

• fashion illustrator: Italian Vogue, British Vogue, Modern Luxury, Paper City, Cotton Inc, Toronto Life Fashion
• Interior Design
• Model management

• board of directors Parsons School of Design
• Chairman Dallas Fashion Incubator, Texas Next Top Designer
• Board member of Chiapas International
• Board member of Starlight foundation
• Diffa Style Council/ Lifetime Achievement Award, Texas Legend
• Kent State Critic in Residence
• FGI member