Dive Brief:
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Kohl’s on Tuesday said it has tapped Dave Alves to be chief operating officer, effective sometime in April. He’ll report to Tom Kingsbury, who became chief executive earlier this month after serving in the interim.
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Alves will oversee Kohl's operations including its nearly 1,200 stores, global supply chain and distribution centers, real estate portfolio, purchasing, sustainability, risk management and compliance functions, per a company press release.
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His more than three decades of retail experience include stints as chief retail officer for Bealls Retail Group, and in leadership roles at TJX Canada and TJX Europe, Hudson's Bay and Sterling Shoes.
Dive Insight:
Kingsbury spent some formative years as an executive at Kohls, having previously served in a leadership role overseeing marketing, business development, e-commerce and information technology before taking the CEO post at Burlington in 2008.
He was the preferred choice of investors to succeed Michelle Gass, who left Kohl’s abruptly at the end of last year to become president at Levi’s. Several investors had pushed him to join Kohl’s board in 2021 as part of an activist-led overhaul. Now he’s shaping up his own team; the department store named a chief merchant earlier this month.
The retailer remains in turmoil, in November pulling its guidance for the year and in January laying off about 60 employees at its corporate office.
In a statement, Kingsbury said Alves’ experience will be useful as senior leadership works to “drive the business forward.”
“Dave is joining us at a time when we are elevating our business and our offerings for the next generation of shoppers,” he said. “His deep retail background in department stores and off-price, and his experience across U.S. and global markets will be a great addition to our team."
