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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Arthur C. Martinez
| name = Arthur C. Martinez
| image = ArthurCMartinezBIOPhoto.jpg
| image = ArthurCMartinezBIOPhoto.jpg
| caption =
| caption = Martinez, c. 2010s
| birth_name =
| birth_place = [[New York City, New York]], U.S.
| birth_place =
| birth_name = Arthur Caulfield Martinez
| death_date =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|09|25}}
| education = [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering|Polytechnic University]] (BS) <br> [[Harvard Business School]] (MBA)
| death_place =
| occupation = Businessman, executive
| education = [[Harvard Business School]] ([[Master of Business Administration|M.B.A.]])
| spouse = {{marriage|Elizabeth Dorothy Rusch|1966}}
| alma_mater = Polytechnic Institute of New York ([[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]]) now [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering]]
| occupation = Business executive
| children = 2
| title = [[Chairman]] and [[CEO]] of [[Sears]]
| relatives = [[Richard Dupont]] (son-in-law)
| awards = [[Financial World|CEO of the Year]] (1996)<br>[[Harvard Business School|Alumni Achievement Award]] (1999)
| term = 1995 - 2000
| known_for = {{blist|list_style=margin-left:0;|Leading [[Sears|Sears, Roebuck & Co]]}}
| predecessor = [[Edward A. Brennan]]
| successor = [[Alan J. Lacy]]
}}
}}
'''Arthur C. Martinez''' (born September 25, 1939) is an American businessman and executive who formerly served as [[Chief executive officer|chief executive officer (CEO)]] of [[Sears]]. He is best known as the person who led a turnaround of Sears, Roebuck, and Company in the 1990s.


== Early life and education ==
'''Arthur C. Martinez''' is a business executive and a former Chairman and CEO of [[Sears]]. Martinez is best known as the person who tried to turn around Sears, Roebuck and Company (Co.). Prior to joining Sears, Martinez worked for several companies, including [[RCA Records]] and [[Saks Fifth Avenue]].
Martinez was born September 25, 1939 in [[New York City]], the only child of Joseph Martinez ([[né]] José Martínez; 1900-1987) and Agnes Martinez ([[Birth name|née]] Caulfield). His father was born in [[Mexico]] with [[Spain|Spanish]] ancestry and worked as a fish wholesaler.<ref>United States Census, 1940, 1950</ref> His mother was an Irish immigrant who worked part-time as department store clerk.


He was raised in Brooklyn where he attended Catholic schools. He graduated from [[Polytechnic University (New York)|Polytechnic University]] in 1960 and later completed a [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] at [[Harvard Business School]].
== Early Life ==
Martinez grew up in New York and attended Catholic schools in Brooklyn throughout his early years. For university, he attended the Polytechnic Institute of New York, now known as the [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering]] where he received a B.S. During his time at the Polytechnic Institute, Martinez co-owned a small business that published a magazine. Martinez wrote the editorial content and his partner sold the ads. Martinez then enrolled in Harvard Business School and served in [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps|Reserve Officers’ Training Corps]] (ROTC) where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and spent two years stationed in Stuttgart, Germany.  


== Career ==
== Career ==
Prior to joining Sears, Martinez worked for several companies, including [[RCA Records]]. He entered the retail business in 1980 when he became the chief financial officer for [[Saks Fifth Avenue]]. In 1992 Martinez became the head of the Sears Merchandise Group and three years later he became the chief executive officer of Sears, Roebuck, and Company. During his eight-year tenure at Sears, Martinez initiated a major overhaul of the company's operations and made the company profitable again. He is best known for changing the company's marketing strategy to focus on women as well as men.


Martinez retired in 2000, although he continues to serve on the boards of directors for several businesses. He graduated from [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering]] with an undergraduate degree and also received an MBA from [[Harvard University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arthur C Martinez, Greenwich Health Care Services Inc: Profile and Biography |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1396141 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Martinez, Arthur C.: 1939—: Businessman {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/martinez-arthur-c-1939-businessman |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref><ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/2014/01/28/abercrombie-appoints-industry-veteran-to-chairman/ Foxbusiness.com</ref><ref>http://people.equilar.com/bio/arthur-martinez-abercrombie--/salary/594565 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721141616/http://people.equilar.com/bio/arthur-martinez-abercrombie--/salary/594565 |date=July 21, 2015 }} Peopl.equilar.com</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=News from California, the nation and world |url=https://www.latimes.com/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Q4 2013 Exhibit 99.1 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1018840/000101884014000007/q42013exhibit991.htm |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref><ref>http://nacdny.org/bio/bio_martinez.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721121859/http://nacdny.org/bio/bio_martinez.html |date=2015-07-21 }} Nacdny.com</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) Announces Compensation Award for Chairman Arthur Martinez |url=https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Abercrombie+%26+Fitch+%28ANF%29+Announces+Compensation+Award+for+Chairman+Arthur+Martinez/10481481.html |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=StreetInsider.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dobrzynski |first=Judith H. |date=1996-01-07 |title=Yes, He's Revived Sears. But Can He Reinvent It? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/07/business/yes-he-s-revived-sears-but-can-he-reinvent-it.html |access-date=2022-07-21 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abrams |first=Rachel |date=2014-12-09 |title=Michael Jeffries Retires After Career Overseeing Abercrombie's Rise and Fall |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/10/business/michael-jeffries-chief-of-abercrombie-fitch-retires.html |access-date=2022-07-21 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/martha-stewart-living-omnimedia-inc-elects-arthur-c-martinez-to-board-of-directors-76082902.html Prnewswire.com</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ANF {{!}} Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Profile |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/anf/company-profile?pid=25982 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=MarketWatch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LittleSis: Arthur C Martinez |url=https://littlesis.org/entities/1969-Arthur_C_Martinez |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=littlesis.org}}</ref><ref>http://finance.thetimes-tribune.com/pep/executive/arthur-c-martinez/arthur-c-martinez.htm Finance.thetimes-tribune.com</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arthur C. Martinez - Pay Pals |url=http://data.huffingtonpost.com/paypals/arthur-c-martinez |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=The Huffington Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-12-25/business/9312250083_1_sears-merchandise-group-chairman-arthur-c-martinez-family-footwear Articles.chicagotribune.com</ref> In 1995, Arthur Martinez was honored with an [[Edison Awards|Edison Achievement Award]] for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.
=== Early Career ===
Martinez began his career working for Enjay Chemical Company, a division of Humble Oil and Refining Co. which would be purchased by Exxon USA. Upon acquiring Humble Oil and Refining Co, Exxon merged Humble’s Esso Chemical and Enjay Chemicals into Exxon Chemicals, which today’s [[ExxonMobil]]. Wanting quicker career advancement and not experiencing this at Enjay, Martinez left the company and landed a position as the head of planning for a new ventures division of [[International Paper]], where he worked for two years. Martinez then joined Talley Industries as an director handling mergers and acquisitions and oversaw Talley’s relationship with Wall Street.


=== RCA Corporation ===
== Personal life ==
On July 30, 1966, Martinez married Elizabeth Dorothy Rusch, a daughter of Forrest B. Rusch of [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]], at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church in Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-07-31 |title=Miss Rusch Is Wed To Arthur Martinez |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/07/31/archives/miss-rusch-is-wed-to-arthur-martinez.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> They had one daughter and a son:
In 1972, Martinez joined [[RCA|RCA Corporation]] as one of three directors of business planning and was soon promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of [[RCA Records]]. In 1976, Martinez became head of the international division of RCA.


* Lauren Martinez (born 1970), who married [[Richard Dupont|Richard S. DuPont, Jr.]] (born 1968), a son of Richard DuPont, Sr., a private investor of the [[Du Pont family|DuPont family]], and Emily T. Frick, trustee of the [[Frick Collection]] and [[Old Westbury Gardens]]. Her husband is a direct descendant of [[Éleuthère Irénée du Pont]], founder of the [[DuPont|Du Pont company]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-07-27 |title=Lauren Martinez, Richard duPont Jr. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/27/style/lauren-martinez-richard-dupont-jr.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
=== Saks Fifth Avenue ===
* Gregory Arthur Martinez (born 1974), who married Caroline Leventhal, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Leventhal, of New York City, who formerly owned the Franzus Company, and was president of Clermont Capital Partners.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-08-05 |title=WEDDINGS; Caroline Leventhal, Gregory Martinez |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/05/style/weddings-caroline-leventhal-gregory-martinez.html |access-date=2024-05-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In late 1979, Martinez accepted an offer to become senior vice president and chief financial officer of [[Saks Fifth Avenue]]. During this time, Saks was a part of the retail division of [[Batus Inc.|BATUS Inc.]], the U.S. division of [[British American Tobacco]]. Martinez’s time at Saks Fifth Avenue was an exciting time of growth for the company, despite a national economic recession.
Martinez and his wife are residents of [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], where he also served on a variety of nonprofit boards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=greenwichfreepress |date=2022-05-06 |title=Arthur and Elizabeth Martinez Family and Dr. James Brunetti to Be Honored at Benefit for Greenwich Hospital |url=https://greenwichfreepress.com/around-town/giving/arthur-and-elizabeth-martinez-family-and-dr-james-brunetti-to-be-honored-at-benefit-for-greenwich-hospital-179939/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Greenwich Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-30 |title=Arthur Martinez' house in Greenwich, CT (Google Maps) |url=https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/arthur-martinez-house/view/google/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Virtual Globetrotting |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
==References==
In 1986 the BATUS empire began to struggle and sell-offs initiated by London were in the forecast. Martinez was offered to head the remaining BATUS retail properties headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The remaining properties included of Saks Fifth Avenue, Marshall Field’s, Ivey’s Department Stores, and Breuners. Martinez took the job and moved to Louisville after thinking back to his experience at RCA. They were big changes that involved big challenges, but it had worked out well.  
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
In 1990, Saks Fifth Avenue was sold to [[Investcorp]] and Martinez was offered the position of vice chairman by the new owners. Martinez accepted and moved back to New York.

== Books ==
''The Hard Road to the Softer Side: Lessons from the Transformation of SEARS'' was published in 2001 by [[Crown Publishing Group]], now a division of [[Penguin Random House]]. The book, written by Arthur C. Martinez and Charles Madigan documents the time Martinez spent at Sears, the problems he faced and the transformational solutions he brought to the company.
<br />
⚫
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Arthur C.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Arthur C.}}
[[Category:Polytechnic Institute of New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Polytechnic Institute of New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:American retail chief executives]]
[[Category:Sears Holdings people]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New York City]]

Latest revision as of 02:00, 20 May 2024

Arthur C. Martinez
Martinez, c. 2010s
Born
Arthur Caulfield Martinez

(1939-09-25) September 25, 1939 (age 84)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationPolytechnic University (BS)
Harvard Business School (MBA)
Occupation(s)Businessman, executive
Known for
Spouse
Elizabeth Dorothy Rusch
​
​
(m. 1966)​
Children2
RelativesRichard Dupont (son-in-law)
AwardsCEO of the Year (1996)
Alumni Achievement Award (1999)

Arthur C. Martinez (born September 25, 1939) is an American businessman and executive who formerly served as chief executive officer (CEO) of Sears. He is best known as the person who led a turnaround of Sears, Roebuck, and Company in the 1990s.

Early life and education

[edit]

Martinez was born September 25, 1939 in New York City, the only child of Joseph Martinez (né José Martínez; 1900-1987) and Agnes Martinez (née Caulfield). His father was born in Mexico with Spanish ancestry and worked as a fish wholesaler.[1] His mother was an Irish immigrant who worked part-time as department store clerk.

He was raised in Brooklyn where he attended Catholic schools. He graduated from Polytechnic University in 1960 and later completed a MBA at Harvard Business School.

Career

[edit]

Prior to joining Sears, Martinez worked for several companies, including RCA Records. He entered the retail business in 1980 when he became the chief financial officer for Saks Fifth Avenue. In 1992 Martinez became the head of the Sears Merchandise Group and three years later he became the chief executive officer of Sears, Roebuck, and Company. During his eight-year tenure at Sears, Martinez initiated a major overhaul of the company's operations and made the company profitable again. He is best known for changing the company's marketing strategy to focus on women as well as men.

Martinez retired in 2000, although he continues to serve on the boards of directors for several businesses. He graduated from New York University Tandon School of Engineering with an undergraduate degree and also received an MBA from Harvard University.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] In 1995, Arthur Martinez was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.

Personal life

[edit]

On July 30, 1966, Martinez married Elizabeth Dorothy Rusch, a daughter of Forrest B. Rusch of Cleveland, Ohio, at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church in Cleveland.[18] They had one daughter and a son:

Martinez and his wife are residents of Greenwich, Connecticut, where he also served on a variety of nonprofit boards.[21][22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ United States Census, 1940, 1950
  2. ^ "Arthur C Martinez, Greenwich Health Care Services Inc: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Martinez, Arthur C.: 1939—: Businessman | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  4. ^ http://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/2014/01/28/abercrombie-appoints-industry-veteran-to-chairman/ Foxbusiness.com
  5. ^ http://people.equilar.com/bio/arthur-martinez-abercrombie--/salary/594565 Archived July 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Peopl.equilar.com
  6. ^ "News from California, the nation and world". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "Q4 2013 Exhibit 99.1". www.sec.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  8. ^ http://nacdny.org/bio/bio_martinez.html Archived 2015-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Nacdny.com
  9. ^ "Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) Announces Compensation Award for Chairman Arthur Martinez". StreetInsider.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  10. ^ Dobrzynski, Judith H. (January 7, 1996). "Yes, He's Revived Sears. But Can He Reinvent It?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Abrams, Rachel (December 9, 2014). "Michael Jeffries Retires After Career Overseeing Abercrombie's Rise and Fall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  12. ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/martha-stewart-living-omnimedia-inc-elects-arthur-c-martinez-to-board-of-directors-76082902.html Prnewswire.com
  13. ^ "ANF | Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Profile". MarketWatch. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  14. ^ "LittleSis: Arthur C Martinez". littlesis.org. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  15. ^ http://finance.thetimes-tribune.com/pep/executive/arthur-c-martinez/arthur-c-martinez.htm Finance.thetimes-tribune.com
  16. ^ "Arthur C. Martinez - Pay Pals". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  17. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-12-25/business/9312250083_1_sears-merchandise-group-chairman-arthur-c-martinez-family-footwear Articles.chicagotribune.com
  18. ^ "Miss Rusch Is Wed To Arthur Martinez". The New York Times. July 31, 1966. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  19. ^ "Lauren Martinez, Richard duPont Jr". The New York Times. July 27, 1997. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  20. ^ "WEDDINGS; Caroline Leventhal, Gregory Martinez". The New York Times. August 5, 2001. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  21. ^ greenwichfreepress (May 6, 2022). "Arthur and Elizabeth Martinez Family and Dr. James Brunetti to Be Honored at Benefit for Greenwich Hospital". Greenwich Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "Arthur Martinez' house in Greenwich, CT (Google Maps)". Virtual Globetrotting. March 30, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
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