Macy's vs Nordstrom: Founders, CEOs and History
Macy's was founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy and is led by Tony Spring. Nordstrom was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom, Carl Wallin and is led by Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs).
Company facts
Founders
Macy's
Rowland Hussey Macy
Rowland Hussey Macy (1822-1877) was a Nantucket-born merchant and former whaler who opened R.H. Macy & Co. in New York City in 1858 after earlier retail ventures failed.
Nordstrom
John W. Nordstrom
John W. Nordstrom emigrated from Sweden to the United States as a teenager and worked in mines and logging camps before joining the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897.
Carl Wallin
Carl Wallin was a shoemaker who partnered with John W. Nordstrom to open Wallin & Nordstrom in Seattle in 1901, bringing the footwear expertise while Nordstrom brought capital from the Klondike.
CEOs and their tenures
Macy's
- Terry Lundgren2003–2017
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Led Federated/Macy's through the 2005 May Department Stores merger.
Source - Jeff Gennette2017–2024
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Retired as CEO in February 2024 after 40 years with the company.
Source - Tony Spring2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Spring, Macy's returned to positive annual comparable sales in FY2025 and posted five straight quarters of comp growth through Q2 2026. He joined Bloomingdale's in 1987 and was its CEO from 2014 until becoming Macy's CEO.
Source - Tom Edwards2024–present
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Oversees finance and operations; presented Q2 2026 results and the raised FY2026 guidance.
Source
Nordstrom
- Jamie Nordstrom
Chief Merchandising Officer
Leads merchandising and sits on the post-deal board alongside Erik and Pete Nordstrom.
Source - John Whitacre1997–2000
Chief Executive Officer
First CEO from outside the Nordstrom family, appointed in 1997.
Source - Blake W. Nordstrom2000–2019
President, later Co-President
Led the company as president from 2000 and co-president from 2015 until his death in January 2019.
Source - Erik B. Nordstrom2020–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Became CEO in 2020 after serving as co-president, and has led the push to expand Nordstrom Rack and connect stores with digital fulfillment. Became co-CEO with his brother Pete when the company went private in May 2025.
Source - Pete E. Nordstrom2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Former president and chief brand officer focused on merchandising and brand; became co-CEO in May 2025.
Source
Timeline: Macy's and Nordstrom side by side
1858Macy's
R.H. Macy & Co. opens
Rowland Hussey Macy opens his dry goods store on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.
1901Nordstrom
First Shoe Store Opens in Seattle
John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin open Wallin & Nordstrom, a shoe store in downtown Seattle.
1902Macy's
Herald Square flagship
Under the Straus family, Macy's moves to Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway.
1924Macy's
First Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's stages its first Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
1963Nordstrom
Expansion into Apparel
Nordstrom bought Seattle women's clothing retailer Best's Apparel, moving beyond shoes into apparel and laying the foundation for the full-line department store.
1973Nordstrom
Launch of Nordstrom Rack
The first Nordstrom Rack opens in Seattle as a clearance outlet for full-line merchandise, the start of the off-price business.
1994Macy's
Merger with Federated
R.H. Macy & Co. emerges from bankruptcy by merging with Federated Department Stores.
2005Macy's
May Department Stores acquisition
Federated acquires The May Department Stores Company for about $11B, then converts most regional banners to Macy's in 2006.
2007Macy's
Renamed Macy's, Inc.
Federated Department Stores changes its corporate name to Macy's, Inc.
2011Nordstrom
Acquisition of HauteLook
Nordstrom acquired flash-sale site HauteLook for about $180 million in stock plus a potential earn-out, expanding its online off-price business.
2014Nordstrom
Trunk Club Acquisition
Nordstrom acquired Trunk Club in 2014 as a digital personal-styling bet, later wound down the standalone brand in fiscal 2022, and continued personal styling through Nordstrom channels.
2015Macy's
Bluemercury acquired
Macy's buys prestige beauty retailer Bluemercury for $210M.
2023Nordstrom
Exit from Canadian Market
Nordstrom wound down its Canadian business, closing six full-line Nordstrom stores and seven Rack stores, to refocus on the U.S. market.
2024Macy's
Tony Spring and A Bold New Chapter
Tony Spring becomes CEO in February 2024 and launches a plan to close about 150 underperforming stores and invest in stronger stores and luxury banners.
2024Nordstrom
Last Public Fiscal Year: $15.0 Billion Revenue
In FY2024, its last year as a public company, Nordstrom reported total revenues of $15.016 billion, net sales of $14.557 billion, and net earnings of $294 million.
2025Nordstrom
Nordstrom Goes Private
The Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool complete the acquisition of Nordstrom on May 20, 2025; Nordstrom stock ceases NYSE trading before the market opens on May 21, 2025.
2025Nordstrom
Erik and Pete Nordstrom Become Co-CEOs
With the go-private deal closing, brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom became co-CEOs and a seven-member board replaced the 12-member public board.
2026Macy's
Return to comparable sales growth
Macy's reports positive FY2025 comparable sales in March 2026 and raises FY2026 guidance after Q2 2026 comps rise 2.7%.
2026Nordstrom
125th Anniversary and Rack Expansion
Nordstrom marked 125 years in business after opening 22 Rack stores in 2025, reaching 298, and announced 18 more Rack openings for 2026.
Acquisitions
Macy's
- STORY2018Undisclosed
- Bluemercury2015$210M
- The May Department Stores Company2005$11B
Questions about Macy's vs Nordstrom
Who is the CEO of Macy's, Inc. and Nordstrom, Inc.?
Macy's, Inc. is led by Tony Spring and Nordstrom, Inc. is led by Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs). Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Macy's, Inc. founded vs Nordstrom, Inc.?
Macy's, Inc. was founded in 1858 — 43 years before Nordstrom, Inc., which was founded in 1901. Macy's, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Nordstrom, Inc..
How many employees does Macy's, Inc. have compared to Nordstrom, Inc.?
Macy's, Inc. employs approximately 90,134 people, while Nordstrom, Inc. employs approximately 55,000. Macy's, Inc. has the larger workforce at 90,134 employees, compared to Nordstrom, Inc.'s 55,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Macy's, Inc. and Nordstrom, Inc. headquartered?
Both Macy's, Inc. and Nordstrom, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Macy's, Inc. and Nordstrom, Inc.?
Macy's, Inc. was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy. Nordstrom, Inc. was founded by John W. Nordstrom, Carl Wallin.
Which company has a longer operating history — Macy's, Inc. or Nordstrom, Inc.?
Macy's, Inc. has been operating for approximately 168 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Nordstrom, Inc. has been in operation for around 125 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Macy's vs Nordstrom overview