J.C. Penney High-Flying Executives Seen Hampering Revamp

J.C. Penney Co. Chief Executive Officer Ron Johnson, who is struggling to overhaul the department-store company, risks making his task harder by hiring at least nine key executives who live a plane ride away.

Johnson, 54, and executive vice presidents Ben Fay and Laurie Miller commute from California to the retailer’s headquarters in Plano, Texas, said three people with direct knowledge of the situation. Chief Creative Officer Michael Fisher and senior design and trends executive Nick Wooster fly from New York, while construction executive Bob Laughrea commutes from Boston, said the people, who asked not to be identified, citing agreements with the company. The company pays for the commutes, they said.