Macy’s Inc. has announced the appointment of Tracy Preston as the new head of their in-house legal team. Preston is a seasoned retail lawyer with extensive experience in handling corporate diversity disputes. This strategic hire comes at a time when the iconic retailer has come under fire over allegations of illegal hiring quotas.
Having recently been elected as chair of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s global board of directors for 2024, Preston is slated to join Macy’s in New York on January 8th. Presently, she serves as the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary for HanesBrands Inc., having joined them in 2021 after nearly a decade as the top lawyer for luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group Inc.
At Macy’s, Preston will succeed former legal chief Elisa Garcia, who retired last year. Notably, both Preston and Garcia have been active advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal and wider corporate landscapes. Over her career at notable establishments like Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Levi Strauss & Co., as Partner and Chief Counsel respectively, Preston has actively assisted companies in laying out, elucidating, and monitoring workforce diversity objectives.
Her move to Macy’s happens to coincide with the time when America First Legal, headed by ex-Trump administration official Stephen Miller, targeted the company along with more than 20 other companies, alleging gender and racial discrimination in their policies. Macy’s has chosen to remain silent regarding these allegations.
The company’s public statement regarding Preston’s hire has outlined her responsibilities, which encompass an array of legal affairs, including litigation, compliance matters, commercial and regulatory concerns, and employment, among others.
In her new role, Preston will be working closely with Macy’s CEO-elect, Tony Spring, set to assume leadership of the retailer next year. Spring has praised Preston’s proven ability to align legal and risk mitigation strategies with business objectives and brand missions.
HanesBrands, however, has not yet declared who will succeed Preston as its legal head. Meanwhile, Macy’s lawyer Wendy Schmidt Beadles, who served as interim legal head following Garcia’s retirement, will resume her role as vice president of legal business operations.
Reference: Bloomberg Law