John Patterson

John Patterson has over 30+ years of Global HR Leadership Experience in a diverse set of industries ranging from Specialty and Large-Scale Retail, Global Luxury Brands, Consumer Packaged Goods, Aerospace, and Internet / E-commerce. Last year he moved the Talent Function at Macy’s and will lead efforts across all Macy’s nameplates as the Head of the Talent COE at Macy’s leading Talent Acquisition, Culture, Talent Management, Performance Management, and Learning and Leadership. His retail experience spans specialty, with Sycamore-backed Talbot’s, and luxury retail with the Swatch Group as SVP of HR of North America and Chief HR Officer of Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, and during the first three (3) years he led the Stores HR Function and Talent Acquisition for Macy’s Inc.

JP has extensive international experience and worked overseas for 6 years leading HR functions in both Asia Pacific and the Sub-Saharan Africa Regions for Diageo, where he was responsible for developing Human Capital strategies in emerging markets of China, India, South East Asia and more developed markets in Korea, Japan, and Australia and 40 countries in Africa. Prior to joining Diageo in 2001, Mr. Patterson was a part of the start-up team that built out the priceline.com brand as the Vice President of Talent from 1999 – 2001. Early in JP’s career, he worked with PepsiCo in New York and Lockheed Martin Aerospace in Southern California, where he focused in Labor Relations.

Prior to the Global Pandemic, JP was active in Parish life, serving as a Parish Council Member, regular Lector, and long-term Catechist. He has been a long-term supporter and volunteer with Dress for Success, an organization that is committed to helping women find dignity and purpose through meaningful employment, serving as a Board Member from 2014 – 2016. An avid cyclist, JP completed his first 100 mile ride – then a 2-day 200 mile ride in the Pan Mass Challenge, and is training for the third “double century” in August, 2023.

JP holds a BS Degree in Business Administration and Labor / Industrial Relations from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.