Ashley Buchanan Takes the Helm as Chief Executive Officer of Kohl’s
As announced on November 25, 2024, Ashley Buchanan will serve as Kohl’s chief executive officer and Board member, effective today, January 15. Former chief executive officer, Tom Kingsbury, will stay on in an advisory role and retain his position on Kohl's Board through his retirement in May 2025.
“We are excited to welcome Ashley to Kohl's. His vast retail experience leading operations, merchandising, and e-commerce at Walmart and his past five years as CEO of Michaels will bring a steady, proven, innovative leader to Kohl's as we continue to transform the business and drive future growth. During his time at Michaels, he improved profitability and cash flow while driving operational efficiencies across the business. He also introduced new ways to leverage technology and e-commerce, allowing Michaels to more effectively meet customers where they are today. He has driven change by setting a clear vision, empowering teams, and practicing organizational accountability for results. We know he will be a great leader for Kohl's and will bring a new perspective in our next chapter.” said Michael J. Bender, Kohl’s Board Chair.
Ashley most recently served as CEO of Michaels Companies since 2020 and, prior to that, has held a variety of senior executive roles at Walmart and Sam's Club during his 13 years at the company.
"I am thrilled to join Kohl's, a storied and respected brand in the retail industry. We have the privilege of serving millions of families all across the country, and I'm excited to work with the teams to evolve our business – building off the strength of our brand and loyal customer base while also creating a compelling retail experience for the future."
About Ashley Buchanan
Ashley was CEO and President of Michaels Companies from 2020 to 2024, where he improved profitability, expanded the company's omnichannel approach by significantly growing the digital business, enhanced the store base with a smaller format model, and simplified its merchandise strategy. Prior to Michaels, Ashley held a variety of executive positions at Walmart during his 13 years at the company, including Chief Merchandising and Chief Operating Officer for Walmart U.S. e-Commerce. Before that, he was Chief Merchant at Sam's Club where he led merchandising strategy, private brands, pricing, global sourcing, packaging and supply chain. Ashley joined Walmart from Dell where he held a variety of positions in finance, and Accenture, where he focused on the retail industry. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and real estate as well as a Master of Business Administration from Baylor University.
