A Kohl’s department store pictured April 2020 in Alameda, Calif. On Wednesday, the Wisconsin-headquartered company’s named interim CEO Michael Bender its third chief executive in a three year period in a unanimous move effective Sunday. File Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA
Khol’s on Monday announced interim CEO Michael Bender will be officially named the company’s cheif executive.
Bender will be the Wisconsin-headquartered company’s third CEO in a three-year period in a unanimous move effective Sunday.
“As previously shared, the board engaged an external firm and conducted a comprehensive search,” according to Kohl’s board Chairman John Schlifske.
Schlifske said at the conclusion of its search effort, the board had “enthusiastically” appointed Bender in its unanimous vote to retain Bender.
Declining sales, meanwhile, have been met with leadership issues.
Bender stepped into the CEO role on a temporary basis in May and was appointed after the then-CEO Ashley Buchanan was fired over conflict of interest issues.
“While we’re pleased by our recent progress, we’re deeply motivated to accelerate our transformation — together with our partners, vendors and incredible Kohl’s associates all across the country,” he said in a statement.
It arrived as Kohl’s seeks to spur growth in sales at its more than 1,160 store locations.
Bender, who joined Kohl’s after years in management at other retailers such as Walmart and Victoria’s Secret, has been on the Kohl’s company board since June 2019.
He became board chair last year in May.
Monday’s announcement arrived the day before the company was expected to report its third-quarter fiscal earnings Tuesday.
