Geoffrey Henning

Seasoned VP of Design at JCPenney, I spearheaded a team to innovate and elevate private brands, achieving significant market differentiation and fostering a culture of creativity. With expertise in market trends analysis and team leadership, my strategic vision and collaborative approach have been pivotal in driving brand growth and operational excellence.

As a lead design liaison with design schools,my role has been to bridge the gap between emerging talent and the evolving needs of the industry. by fostering strong partnerships with top design programs, i have helped create opportunities for students to gain real-world experience , engage with brands, and bring fresh perspectives to the creative process. Through mentorship, workshops, and collaborative projects, i have worked to inspire the next generation of designers while also identifying and nurturing potential talent.

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

• 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

• Board of Directors Appointee for Parsons School of Design / NYC 2009/2012
• Chairman Dallas Fashion Incubator/ Texas Next Top Designer 2005-2008
• Board member of Chiapas International 2008/2010
• Board member of Starlight foundation 2008/2011
• Diffa Style Council/ Lifetime Achievement Award 2010
• Kent State Critic in Residence 2023/2024
• Fashion Critic: KSU, RISD, SCADD, U of CINCINATTI
• Modern Luxury " man of style"/ D magazine: Faces of Dallas
• D magazine: style influencer/ people to know/ home influencer
• JCPENNEY Chairman Award 2009/2010/2011
• FGI Dallas Board Member 2024

• JCPENNEY, 6501 legacy drive DALLAS, TEXAS, 75208, VP DESIGN : Lead team of over 100 designers for all categories of Design for JCP: store , .com, Women's Brands: Liz Claiborne, ANA, Worthington,Stylus, Xersion, St Johns Bay, Arizona, Decree, Ambrielle, Bold Elements / Kids Brands: ThereAbouts, Okie Dokie, Xersion, Sports illustrated, / Men's Brands: JF, Stafford, Mutual Weave, St Johns Bay, Stylus, Shaq, Xersion, Arizona, Sports Illustrated / Hope & wonder/ shoes/handbags, ( $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. Corporate spokesperson for Design inclusvie of PR events, TV, media. .
• JCPENNEY, 6501 legacy drive, DALLAS, TEXAS, 75208, VP Women's Design, , lead all women's 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 60 design staff, brands: Worthington, ANA, Cosmo, liz claiborne, St John's Bay, Stylus, JCP, Bisou Bisou, Bold elements , East Fifth, Nicole Miller, shoes/handbags,: $980 million, develop white space business opportunities/key item growth.
• 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 YIAR,  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, N Marcus, Macy's., Conducted domestic and international fabric research with emphasis on bridge price point., Supervised patterns and duplication line in New York and Hong Kong., Seasonal travel to Hong Kong, China, Korea and Europe.

• THEO MILES, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Designer, 02/1993 - 09/1994, Main line designer responsible for concept and execution of both signature BRIDGE line with additional development for private label. Conducted domestic and international research to provide inspiration for design team and sales associates. Supervised pattern work and sample room development in New York office as well as key suppliers in Asia and Turkey. Traveled seasonally to key fabric shows ( PV, Prato Expo, MIlan, Hong Kong Fabric show ) to ensure fabric initiatives and execution aligned with key initiatives and sourcing objectives.
• ALFRED SUNG DESIGN, TORONTO, CANADA, Designer, 10/1991 - 01/1993. Designer responsible for the ALFRED concept store which initiated the unisex application of design with focus on key essentials and updated classics. The concept drove newness in how fabrics, color and silhouette aligned in a singular vision applied to men's and women's apparel. Traveled along Alfred Sung to both Europe and Asia to ensure concept and production aligned to the creative goal. Drove both marketing and store concept to ensure a singular approach to the ALRED lifestyle. Key ambassador to the brand in executing trunk shows and personal appearances for media and brand exposure. In addition to the ALFRED line, was key leader in concepting and creative visual direction for the ALFRED SUNG bridge line in both apparel execution and the visual expression of both physical stores, concept stores in department stores and how the brand executed in marketing and media events.
• CLUB MONACO, TORONTO, CANADA, Designer, 01/1990 - 10/1991
• HOLT RENFREW, TORONTO/MONTREAL, CANADA, VISUAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR, 03/1987 - 01/1990

• 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