Executive leadership teams changed at more than 20 ecommerce-related businesses in 2025, including online retail leaders, online marketplaces and fulfillment companies.

North America’s leading online retailers changed up varying aspects of their executive leadership teams, many of them bringing in new CEOs or hiring technology leaders to navigate an artificial intelligence (AI)-dominated retail environment in 2025.

In the online marketplace arena, eBay brought in a new chief financial officer. It brought in Peggy Alford, who is a board member at Meta and was previously executive vice president of global sales and merchant services for PayPal. Meanwhile, Etsy’s chief technology officer, Rafe Colburn, took on an expanded role. As a result, he became Etsy’s chief product and technology officer. The change came as Etsy’s previous chief product officer departed and the online marketplace consolidated the two executive roles.

Elsewhere, BigCommerce (now simply called Commerce), which powers ecommerce platforms for some of the Top 2000 online retailers, named a new product officer. DHL Supply Chain named a new CEO for its North America unit, and FedEx brought in a new chief digital and information officer (CDIO).

These changes and more highlight varying priorities in a retail macroenvironment that includes:

• Shifts in consumer spending as a result of tariffs and other price increases.
• AI’s expansion into agentic commerce and other year-defining ecommerce trends.
• The rise of retail media networks as key marketing tools.
• Mergers and acquisitions, as well as bankruptcies.
• Expanded last-mile delivery partnerships.

Below are some of the biggest stories surrounding executive leadership changes in the retail industry from 2025. Retailers are in alphabetical order. Parentheses indicate current Top 2000 ranking.

1-800-Flowers.com (No. 59)

1-800-Flowers.com taps Home Depot veteran as new CEO

The new appointee was also CEO of single-family housing rental firm Progress Residential.

Out: Jim McCann, CEO and founder. The 73-year-old founder of the New York-based company told the Wall Street Journal that as business is slowing, “the best thing I can do is fire myself and hire someone who’s much more skilled than I am in the areas that are important to the company going forward.”

In: Adolfo Villagomez, CEO. Villagomez served as chief marketing officer and senior vice president of The Home Depot’s online business. McCann expects Villagomez to implement newer technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Albertsons (No. 18)

Albertsons appoints executive to lead retail media network

The new senior vice president of the Albertsons Media Collective joined the company with prior experience from Dentsu, Pinterest and Walmart. The media collective refers to Albertsons’ retail media network and is one of the retailer’s ecommerce-related priorities, CEO Susan Morris said at the time.

Out: Kristi Argyilan, senior vice president of the Albertsons Media Collective.

In: Brian Monahan. He most recently spent seven years at Dentsu, where he was the head of retail media solutions.

Estée Lauder (No. 41)

Estée Lauder appoints a chief digital and marketing officer

The appointment reflects Estée Lauder’s strategic focus on strengthening its consumer-centric marketing and enhancing its digital presence across its portfolio of prestige beauty brands.

In: Aude Gandon, chief digital and marketing officer. In the newly created role, Gandon is responsible for driving the company’s global digital commerce strategy and overseeing its marketing, creative operations and media initiatives. She reports directly to president and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie and joins the executive management team.

Funko (not currently ranked)

Funko reinstates former interim CEO

Charles Denson, chair of Funko’s board of directors, said in a statement that he believes “a change in leadership is necessary to deliver full shareholder value.”

Out: Cynthia Williams, who departed in July.

In: Michael Lunsford, interim CEO. He resumed the role at Funko after holding that position in 2023 and 2024.

Home Depot (No. 4)

Home Depot appoints a new CIO to accelerate ecommerce

The new Home Depot CIO oversees the company’s technology strategy across 2,350 stores, 800 distribution branches, and a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem that now accounts for over $21 billion in annual sales.

Out: Fahim Siddiqui, who helped modernize the retailer’s IT infrastructure during his tenure.

In: Angie Brown, executive vice president and chief information officer (CIO).

Kroger (No. 6)

Kroger, Albertsons each announce new CEO on same day

In Kroger’s case, it announced its new interim CEO took over immediately in March as a result of an investigation, whereas Albertsons will change CEOs in May following a planned retirement.

Out at Kroger: Rodney McMullen, CEO. He resigned following a board investigation into his personal conduct.

In at Kroger: Ron Sargent, chairman and interim CEO. He takes McMullen’s place in both roles.

Out at Albertsons: Vivek Sankaran, CEO, who planned his retirement’s timing in May 2025. He had been with Albertsons for six years.

In at Albertsons: Susan Morris, CEO. She was previously executive vice president and chief operations officer.

Kohl’s (No. 25)

Kohl’s unanimously appoints new permanent CEO

Michael J. Bender will remain on the Kohl’s board, where he has been a director since 2019. In that time, he was also board chair from May 2024 until he was appointed Kohl’s interim CEO a year later.

In: Michael J. Bender, CEO. The retailer has tasked him with progressively improving sales.

Lululemon (No. 24)

Lululemon makes leadership team changes as executive plans departure

Its president of the Americas and global guest innovation has left the retailer. In conjunction with that announcement, lululemon said, it has decided to consolidate regional leadership across the company.

Out: Celeste Burgoyne, president of the Americas and global guest innovation.

In: André Maestrini, president and chief commercial officer, a newly created role. Lululemon said it is tasking Mestrini with providing “integrated oversight of all of lululemon’s regions, stores and digital channels globally.”

Lululemon appoints AI-focused executive in newly created role

The retailer is tasking him with “leading the company’s technology organization and driving the development and execution of the next phase of lululemon’s technology and AI strategy.”

In: Ranju Das, chief AI and technology officer.

Mattel (No. 192)

Mattel appoints an executive to lead consumer products and experiences

She will report to CEO Ynon Kreiz and be based at the company’s global headquarters in El Segundo, California.

In: Natalia Premovic, chief consumer products and experiences officer. Mattel has tasked her with overseeing its global consumer products, experiences, publishing and location-based entertainment businesses.

Michaels (No. 100)

Michaels appoints B2B ecommerce veteran as its new CEO

The new CEO previously served as interim CEO at Essendant, a business and industrial supplies distributor.

In: David Boone, CEO. Boone took over chief executive role after Ashley Buchanan left Michaels to become the new CEO at Kohl’s. He had also recently spoken at Digital Commerce 360’s EnvisionB2B event in late 2024.

Peloton (No. 55)

Peloton names new CMO and promotes CTO as it expands AI and B2B

The leadership shifts come as Peloton accelerates growth in Peloton for Business, its B2B initiative offering fitness solutions to employers, health plans, and hospitality providers.

In: Megan Imbres, chief marketing officer. Imbres oversees all aspects of marketing, including global brand, product and growth marketing, creative strategy, consumer insights and member engagement. She reports directly to CEO Peter Stern.

In: Francis Shanahan, chief technology officer, a role Peloton had newly created. Shanahan previously served as the brand’s senior vice president of connected fitness software. He leads Peloton’s engineering, software and technology strategy. Shanahan reports to chief product officer Nick Caldwell.

Ralph Lauren (No. 64)

Ralph Lauren appoints a global chief digital officer

The appointment represents a key step forward in Ralph Lauren’s digital journey, positioning the brand to deliver enhanced consumer experiences and long-term, tech-enabled growth in an evolving retail landscape.

Out: Christopher Conrad, chief digital and technology officer. Conrad departed in January 2025 to become chief technology and information officer at Aritzia.

In: Naveen Seshadri, global chief digital officer (CDO). Seshadri joined Ralph Lauren in April 2024 as global head of consumer technology and digital commerce for North America.

REI (No. 58)

REI names former Nike exec as new CEO

The leadership change comes as the 87-year-old outdoor retailer works to chart a fresh path following financial challenges after the pandemic.

Out: Eric Artz, who served as REI’s president and CEO since 2019.

In: Mary Beth Laughton, CEO. She held roles at Nike, Athleta and Sephora.

Target (No. 5)

CEO change at Target: Fiddelke to take over

The change comes as Target net sales have declined since 2022 and the retailer works on a turnaround.

Out: Brian Cornell, CEO, who officially departs from the position in February. Until then, he will work with Fiddelke on the leadership transition.

In: Michael Fiddelke, currently chief operating officer. Fiddelke will also join the retailer’s board upon assuming the role in February.

Ulta (No. 37)

Ulta announces acquisition of Space NK

The acquisition came shortly after Ulta named an interim chief financial officer. The retailer’s CEO called international expansion integral and said the acquisition offers “a unique and strategically compelling opportunity to enter the growing UK market.”

In: Chris Lialios, interim chief financial officer. Lialios succeeds Paula Oyibo, who had left Ulta.

Vera Bradley (No. 333)

Vera Bradley makes executive changes following Q1 revenue drop

During its fiscal Q1, Vera Bradley sold its Pura Vida brand but still ended the quarter with an $18.26 million net loss.

Out: Jacqueline Ardrey, CEO, who joined in 2022.

Out: Robert Hall, board chairman.

In: Ian Bickley, executive chairman, a new role that Vera Bradley created.

In: Martin Layding, chief financial officer. Layding previously served in the same role for Tapestry’s Coach brand.

Walgreens (No. 14)

Walgreens now operating as private company under new CEO

Upon completing its transition to go private through an acquisition by Sycamore Partners and billionaire Stefano Pessina, Walgreens is now operating under a new CEO.

In: Mike Motz, CEO, was previously the CEO of Staples in the United States, a company in Sycamore’s portfolio.

Walmart rolls out four AI ‘super agents’ as it makes major technology hire

The retailer detailed its super agent roles on the same day it announced the hire of a key Instacart executive to join its AI efforts.

In: Daniel Danker, executive vice president, AI acceleration, product and design. Walmart is tasking him with leading product management and design across the enterprise. Danker will report to Suresh Kumar, the global chief technology officer and chief development officer.

Walmart (No. 2)

Walmart announced new CEO to replace Doug McMillon

John Furner will become Walmart’s new CEO in February, stepping up from his current leadership role at Walmart U.S.

Out: Doug McMillon, CEO

In: John Furner, CEO, who has served as the president and CEO of Walmart U.S. since 2014.

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