Macy’s on Thursday announced that Sabina Israelian-Garcia has been promoted to senior vice president and general merchandising manager of its home, foods and toys categories. In the role, she will diversify the retailer’s assortment and strengthen brand partnerships.
She joined in 2023 as the company’s vice president divisional business manager of Big Ticket. Israelian-Garcia will report to Chief Merchandising Officer Nata Divir.
"Sabina's strategic vision and leadership, coupled with her experience in managing the business holistically from operations to product, will advance our merchandising initiatives as part of our company’s Bold New Chapter strategy," Dvir said in a statement. "Her deep product knowledge and commitment to cultivating a results-oriented, positive culture are key to driving growth within our home, food, and toys categories."
Israelian-Garcia previously worked at Macy’s for nearly 12 years in a variety of leadership roles, including in home, textiles, intimate apparel, sleepwear and hosiery. She also was a merchandise planner at Bloomingdale’s for four years, according to her LinkedIn profile. Israelian-Garcia was most recently the group vice president of merchandise, drug store and beauty at grocery retailer H-E-B prior to rejoining Macy’s.
Macy’s introduced its Bold New Strategy at the start of the year — an effort that aims to return the department store to enterprise growth. A focus of the plan is revitalizing the retailer’s assortment to improve its relevance and value. Other objectives include modernizing and streamlining operations, accelerating luxury growth, and focusing resources by closing 150 underperforming stores in the next three years.
The retailer is also refreshing and updating its private label strategy. Last year, the company unveiled women’s apparel brand On 34th and in February debuted house brand State of Day, which features restwear, sleepwear and innerwear. Last week, the company relaunched its private label Epic Threads, a kids apparel and accessories line. The department store plans to refresh or replace its entire private label portfolio by 2025.
Last week, Macy’s ended talks with Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management to take over the company. The firms offered $6.6 billion, or $24 per share, in March and then raised their offer to $24.80 per share in June, but failed to deliver “a definitive, fully financed and actionable proposal,” according to Macy’s.
Over the past year the company has placed a number of people in leadership roles. In November, Macy’s named Sharon Otterman its new chief marketing officer, while former Bloomingdale’s CEO Tony Spring took over in February as chief executive. Earlier in July, the company promoted Keith Credendino to chief information officer from his role of senior vice president of technology product development, customer experience.
