Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know
Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.
This month’s C-suite roundup is a rare one filled (almost) entirety with CEO changes, as retailers and brands this month made moves toward righting the ship or heading in new directions. Here are the exec moves to know:
- Estée Lauder tapped Stéphane de La Faverie, a company vet who most recently served as executive group president, as its next CEO, ending a monthslong search for a successor after Fabrizio Freda shared his retirement in August. Chief data officer Jane Lauder, also thought to be up for the role, said she’ll exit at the end of the year.
- After several quarters of lackluster results, CVS CEO Karen S. Lynch departed her role, with David Joyner, head of CVS Caremark, the company’s prescription drug benefit unit, taking over the top spot.
- CVS Health’s chief customer and experience officer Michelle Peluso left her role to lead Revlon as CEO just a year after the beauty brand emerged from bankruptcy.
- Gucci owner Kering announced Stefani Cantino as the luxury fashion brand’s new chief executive. He’s been its deputy CEO since May, joining after five years with Louis Vuitton.
- Unilever appointed Pandora executive Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson as CEO of its prestige division, filling the role vacated by Vasiliki Petrou, who announced her exit in June.
- After less than two years in the role, The RealReal president and CEO John Koryl left the company, with the resale company’s president and COO Rati Sahi Levesque filling the open spot.
- Former Foot Locker CEO Ken Hicks joined PetSmart as president and CEO, taking over for J.K. Symancyk, who departed on September 30.
- After 10 years at the helm and 40 years with the retailer, Ross Stores CEO Barbara Rentler is stepping down. Boot Barn CEO and former Claire’s exec James Conroy will assume the role.
- Everlane brought on Alfred Chang as its new CEO. Chang was most recently CEO of apparel brand Fear of God, and also spent 17 years at PacSun, which included serving as co-CEO.
- Grocery Outlet president and CEO R.J. Sheedy exited the discount grocer after joining as chief exec early last year and president in 2019. Board chairman and former CEO Eric Lindberg is filling in as interim president and CEO.
Aaand lastly, a non-CEO move: Tony Hoggett, Amazon’s SVP, worldwide grocery stores, left his role to join delivery-focused fast casual chain Wonder as COO.