Dive Brief:
- Liz O’Neill, Levi Strauss & Co.’s chief operating officer, is retiring, effective March 1, after 12 years. The company will replace the COO role with a new chief supply chain officer position. O’Neill’s departure is one of six C-suite leadership changes the company announced Tuesday.
- Bernard Bedon is the company’s next chief human resources officer. He joins Levi’s from Nike where his most recent role was lead human resources business partner for the company. He starts March 3.
- Additionally, four executives now have expanded responsibilities. Chief Product Officer Karyn Hillman now oversees merchandising and design; Jason Gowans is now chief digital and technology officer; Chief Financial and Growth Officer Harmit Singh now has oversight of the company transformation program; and Chief Commercial Officer Gianluca Flore now oversees licensing and planning.
Dive Insight:
Levi’s said the leadership changes are intended to increase innovation, reduce complexity, align the company’s structure with strategic priorities, streamline decision making and improve speed and agility.
All of the C-suite changes come weeks after the company confirmed it plans to lay off 10% to 15% of its global corporate workforce as part of a two-year turnaround. Levi’s said in fiscal 2024 it expects the turnaround initiative to generate $100 million in net cost savings.
“We believe success is built on clarity of purpose and the ability to adapt, and that’s exactly what we’re doing — aligning our structure with our strategy to drive sustainable, profitable growth,” Levi’s CEO Michelle Gass said in a statement.
In its announcement, the company detailed the expanded responsibilities its C-Suite leaders will have going forward. Hillman is now responsible for the overall vision, priorities and roadmap for the Levi’s brand and its products. Gowan is responsible for digital and enterprise technology functions, along with enhancing digital capabilities and operations across platforms.
Beyond leading the company’s transformation initiatives, as chief financial and growth officer Singh will also oversee expansion of the Levi’s shared services model, while Flore’s expanded focus includes ensuring tighter alignment between sales and inventory.
O’Neill will stay on with the company as a consultant from March 1 through Aug. 1, Levi’s said in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The recent leadership changes extend to the board of directors. Artemis Patrick, president and CEO of Sephora North America, joined the Levi’s board on Feb. 1. Starting next month, Patrick will serve on the board’s audit and nominating, governance and corporate citizenship committees.
Levi’s ended its most recent fiscal year with flat revenues and net income of $249.6 million, a 56% drop from the prior year.
