Theophlius Killion

Corporate executive Theo Killion was born on April 13, 1951, in Montgomery, West Virginia. He received his B.A. degree in history and English in 1973 and his M.Ed. degree in 1975, both from Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts.

Killion joined R. H. Macy & Co., Inc. (later Macy’s, Inc.), in New York City, in 1975, where he served for nineteen years in operations, buying, and human resources, eventually becoming senior vice president of human resources. He then became senior vice president of human resources at the Home Shopping Network, in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1995, vice president of human resources at Lane Bryant, in Columbus, Ohio, in 1996, and vice president of human resources at Limited Brands, also in Columbus, Ohio, in 1999. In 2004, Killion became executive vice president of human resources at Tommy Hilfiger, in New York City, and in 2006, he became an executive search consultant at Berglass Grayson (later Berglass Associates), also in New York City. Killion joined Zale Corporation, in Dallas, Texas, in 2008 as executive vice president of human resources, legal, and corporate strategy. He became president later that year and CEO in 2010, serving in that capacity until 2014. In 2016, Killion became vice chairman of Herbert Mines Associates, Inc., in New York City, and a managing partner at the Sierra Institute, in Dallas, Texas.

Killion has served on the boards of Jewelers of America, Express, Inc., Libbey, Inc., Tailored Brands, where he also served as chair, Claire’s Stores, Inc., and Torrid. He also has served on the board of trustees of the Committee for Economic Development, the board of advisors for arts and sciences at Tufts University, and as chair of the board of A Better Chance. Killion is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Killion received the Benjamin Mays Award from A Better Chance in 2000, the Visionary Merchant Award from Texas A&M University in 2012, the Dreambuilder Award from A Better Chance in 2013, and the Outstanding Career and Service Award from Tufts University in 2018.

Killion lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has two daughters, Aliya and Niyama.

Theo Killion was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on March 28, 2022.