Our Leadership Team

Kevin Mansell, chairman, chief executive officer and president, is responsible for Kohl’s long-term growth and profitability, along with strategic direction. 

Mansell has held a number of progressive positions within the company. He joined Kohl’s in 1982 as a divisional merchandise manager and was promoted to general merchandise manager in 1987. Over the next nine years, his responsibilities expanded to include merchandise planning and allocation. Mansell was promoted to senior executive vice president of merchandising and marketing in 1998. The following year, Mansell was named president and director. He was promoted to Kohl’s CEO in 2008 and named chairman of the board in 2009. 

Mansell began his career in retail in 1975, joining the Venture Store division of May Department Stores, where he held a variety of positions in buying and merchandising.

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. He joined Kohl’s in 2017.

Besanko has more than 20 years of financial leadership experience in retail. Before joining Kohl’s, Besanko spent four years with SUPERVALU in financial leadership roles, including chief operating officer and chief financial officer, as well as five years as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for 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.

Sona Chawla, chief operating officer, is responsible for Kohl’s full omnichannel operations. She oversees all store operations, logistics and supply chain network, information and digital technology, e-commerce strategy and planning and operations.

Chawla joined Kohl’s in 2015. Prior to joining Kohl’s, she 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. She 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 nearly ten years of retail experience.

Michelle Gass, chief merchandising and customer officer, is responsible for all of Kohl's merchandising, planning and allocation, and product development functions as well as the company's overall customer engagement strategy, including marketing, public relations, social media and philanthropic efforts.

Gass joined Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer and was named chief merchandising and customer officer in 2015.

Prior to joining 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 20 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. He 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. He 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. He began his career as an attorney for Quarles & Brady, LLP. Schepp has more than 20 years of retail experience.