Any company culture can get out of whack.
She would travel with W.R. Howell, then chairman, when he made appearances in Washington, D.C., at J.C. Penney Golf Classic events, and at overseas meetings with international dignitaries. Baker testified that her bold ideas for the campaign prevailed with then-chairman Howell over the objections of Oesterreicher, who was chief operating officer. J.C. Penney sponsor Lynn St. James, a female Formula I race car driver. I went through the thing on why we should do this and consumer perception and this will be a good thing to do. And Mr. Oesterreicher looked at me and shook his head, and he looked at Mr. Howell and he says, 'We don't sell cars or motor oil.