Apple Store creator Ron Johnson is a sought-after speaker, board member, and author of Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple’s Genius (September 22, 2026 / Harper Collins). He also founded Enjoy, the first mobile retail store, and served as the CEO of J.C. Penney. He is best known for creating the Apple Stores and for working directly for Steve Jobs while serving on Apple’s executive team. Prior to his time at Apple, Ron was highly regarded for his work with Michael Graves to bring good design to all as a merchant leader at Target; their collaboration set the stage for the brand’s hundreds of subsequent design partnerships and cemented Target as America’s premier upscale discount retailer. Ron lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.