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.
After a month of lots of retail CEO moves, November brought, well, more—as well as a number of CMO and COO shifts. Here are the ones to know:
- Kohl’s CEO Tom Kingsbury is exiting his role on January 25, set to be replaced by Michaels CEO Ashley Buchanan, who has led the craft retailer since 2020. Kingsbury became interim CEO in 2022 after Michelle Gass’s departure, and filled the role on a permanent basis in early 2023.
- Dollar Tree CEO and chair Rick Dreiling is leaving his role, citing personal reasons, after holding the position since March 2022. COO Michael C. Creedon will serve as interim chief exec as the retailer seeks a permanent replacement.
- Capri Holdings announced Michael Kors CEO Cedric Wilmotte stepped away from his role, and the company’s chairman and CEO John Idol will take over. Idol previously served as the brand’s CEO until 2021.
- Kroger CMO and chief merchandising officer Stuart Aitken will exit his role on December 31, with SVP of Operations Mary Ellen Adcock set to assume the role. Aitken is heading to consumer analytics firm Circana, where he’ll serve as CEO.
- Following Boohoo CEO John Lyttle’s departure in October, the British fast fashion company named Dan Finley, chief exec at Boohoo-owned British department store chain Debenhams, as his replacement.
- Kering promoted Balenciaga CEO Cédric Charbit to CEO of Saint Laurent, while Saint Laurent chief commercial officer Gianfranco Gianangeli will take over at Balenciaga.
- LVMH appointed chairman Bernard Arnault’s son Alexandre Arnault as deputy CEO of its Moët Hennessy division, while LVMH CFO Jean-Jacques Guiony will lead as CEO of the luxury giant’s wine and spirits unit.
- Keurig Dr Pepper tapped CPG veteran and Pfizer global CMO Drew Panayiotou as CMO of US refreshment beverages, overseeing brands like Dr Pepper and Snapple.
- Heineken USA brought on Alison Payne as its new CMO, succeeding Jonnie Cahill, who has held the role since 2018. Payne joins from Heineken’s global commerce leadership unit.
- REI’s new CMO is Abigail Jacobs, who most recently served as SVP of integrated marketing and brand at Sephora.
- Wayfair COO Thomas Netzer departed after nearly six years with the furnishings retailer.