Our Leadership Team

Michelle Gass, chief executive officer, is responsible for Kohl’s long-term growth and profitability, along with strategic direction.

Gass joined Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer and was named chief merchandising and customer officer in 2015. Gass was promoted to CEO-elect in October 2017 and assumed the CEO role in May 2018. Gass was an integral leader of the creation of Kohl’s long-term strategic framework, the Greatness Agenda, in 2014.Gass also led the company’s focus on becoming an active and wellness destination, launched Kohl’s new loyalty program and is responsible for bringing in new categories, partners and brands, including Under Armour and Amazon.

Prior to Kohl’s, Gass spent more than 16 years with Starbucks Corporation holding a variety of leadership roles across marketing, global strategy and merchandising, including president, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, overseeing and growing the company's 1,900 owned and licensed store operations across the region. Gass has more than 25 years of experience in the retail and consumer goods industries.

Sona Chawla, president, is responsible for Kohl’s full omnichannel operations. Chawla oversees all store operations, logistics and supply chain network, technology, and e-commerce strategy, planning and operations.

Chawla joined Kohl’s in 2015 as chief operating officer. Chawla was promoted to President-elect in October 2017 and assumed the President role in May 2018.

Prior to Kohl’s, Chawla spent seven years with Walgreens in a variety of senior leadership roles including president of e-commerce. Most recently, Chawla was president of digital and chief marketing officer. Chawla has also held executive positions with Dell, Inc. and Wells Fargo’s Internet Services Group. Chawla has also worked at Andersen Consulting and Mitchell Madison Group. Chawla has more than 15 years of retail and digital experience.

Doug Howe, chief merchandising officer, is responsible for Kohl’s overall merchandise strategy and all merchandising functions, including buying, planning, product design and development, sourcing and merchandising transformation efforts.

Howe joined Kohl’s in 2018. Prior to Kohl’s, Howe served as global chief merchandising officer at the Qurate Retail Group where he led QVC’s and HSN’s product leadership agenda. Howe has also held leadership positions in merchandising and product development with QVC, Gap Inc., Walmart and May Department Stores. Howe has more than 25 years of retail experience. 

Richard Schepp, chief administrative officer, oversees Kohl's human resources, legal, risk management and compliance, real estate, business development and store construction and design.

Schepp joined Kohl’s in 2000 as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. Schepp was promoted to executive vice president in 2001 and senior executive vice president in 2011. In 2013, Schepp became senior executive vice president, human resources, general counsel and secretary. Schepp was promoted to the principal officer position of chief administrative officer in 2015.

Prior to joining Kohl's, Schepp served as senior vice president, general counsel/secretary for Shopko. Schepp began his career as an attorney for Quarles & Brady, LLP. Schepp has more than 25 years of retail experience.

Bruce Besanko, chief financial officer, oversees Kohl’s financial planning and analysis, investor relations, financial reporting, accounting operations, tax, treasury, non-merchandise purchasing, credit and capital investment strategies. 

Besanko joined Kohl’s in 2017. Prior to Kohl’s, Besanko served in a number of financial leadership roles at SUPERVALU, including chief operating officer and chief financial officer, as well as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer with OfficeMax. In addition to his business experience, Besanko served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Besanko has more than 20 years of financial experience in retail.

Ratnakar Lavu, senior executive vice president, chief technology officer, is responsible for overseeing Kohl’s technology team. Lavu has led the transformation of Kohl's omnichannel customer experience, creating a best-in-class experience in retail across mobile, social, kiosk, web and in-store point of sale. Lavu helped expand Kohl’s presence in Silicon Valley, with the opening of Kohl’s Digital Center in Milpitas.

Lavu joined Kohl’s in 2011 as senior vice president, digital innovation. Lavu was promoted to executive vice president, technology in 2014 and chief technology officer in 2016. Lavu was promoted to senior executive vice president, chief technology officer in April 2018.

Prior to Kohl's, Lavu served as chief technology officer at Redbox Automated Retail, LLC and group vice president of e-commerce and information technology with Macys.com. Lavu has more than 15 years of retail experience.

Greg Revelle, senior executive vice president, chief marketing officer, is responsible for Kohl’s marketing organization, including the overall marketing strategy, brand and creative, media and personalization, loyalty efforts, customer insights and analytics, corporate communications and philanthropic efforts. Revelle leads the company's focus on driving customer engagement through data-driven personalization, leadership in loyalty, accelerating customer traffic and continuing to build the Kohl's brand.​ 

Revelle joined Kohl’s in 2017 as executive vice president, chief marketing officer and was promoted to senior executive vice president, chief marketing officer in April 2018.

Prior to Kohl’s, Revelle served in a number of executive leadership roles, including chief marketing officer at Best Buy, chief marketing officer and general manager of e-commerce at AutoNation, vice president of world online marketing at Expedia, and an investment banker at Credit Suisse. Revelle has more than 10 years of marketing and retail industry experience.