Arthur C. Martinez

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
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. 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
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. In 1995, Arthur Martinez was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.

Personal life
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. 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.
 * Lauren Martinez (born 1970), who married Richard S. DuPont, Jr. (born 1968), a son of Richard DuPont, Sr., a private investor of the 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 Du Pont company.
 * 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.