– USA, IL – Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the nation’s largest beauty retailer, today announced that effective in June, Dave Kimbell, president, will succeed Mary Dillon as CEO and will be nominated to stand for election to the board of directors at the 2021 annual stockholders meeting.
Mary Dillon will transition to the role of executive chair of the board of directors.
Kecia Steelman, currently chief store operations officer, will be elevated to the role of COO.
“It has been the honor of my career to lead the Ulta Beauty family for the last eight years and a true joy to have been inspired by our dedicated associates and beauty-loving guests daily. Our strategies, culture, and continuous innovation have strengthened our business model, ensuring we are well-positioned to continue leading the industry,” said Mary Dillon. “Throughout my time with the company, I have worked closely with our board on strategic succession plans, and I believe now is the right time to begin a CEO transition. Dave is a world-class business leader with incredible passion, deep beauty expertise, unwavering drive, and a values-based leadership style. The board, executive team, and I could not be more thrilled to congratulate and support Dave as he takes this new role. There is no one better suited to unlock even more beautiful possibilities.”
“Thanks to Mary’s outstanding leadership, the future is very bright at Ulta Beauty,” said Kimbell. “Our dynamic business plays a unique and important role in the beauty industry and our guests’ lives – and we are committed to continuing operating with a deep respect for that role while innovating and winning together.”
As part of this transition, Ulta Beauty’s current chair, Robert DiRomualdo, will retire from the board after serving three years in the role of chair and 17 years total on the board. The company also announced Lorna Nagler, who has served on the board since 2009, will become Lead Independent Director working with Dillon in her executive chair role.
About Dave Kimbell
A results-driven, inclusive leader, Kimbell is highly regarded in the beauty industry and has been pivotal in developing and executing growth strategies to move the Ulta Beauty business forward. He joined Ulta Beauty as chief marketing officer in 2014 and continually expanded his leadership responsibilities, named chief merchandising and marketing officer in 2015 and ultimately assuming the role of president in 2019. His proven track record of success spans his tenure with the company and is rooted in deep expertise across corporate strategy, merchandising, insights and analytics, marketing and brand development, loyalty, innovation, and business transformation.
“I am humbled to serve as the next CEO of Ulta Beauty, succeeding Mary, whose leadership has been transformational, creating lasting impact across the beauty and retail industries. We will continue to build upon the foundation she set to ensure Ulta Beauty is a destination where every guest feels welcome and every associate can have a fulfilling career,” said Dave Kimbell. “I appreciate the support from Mary and our entire board of directors and look forward to leading with Kecia, our outstanding executive team, and every Ulta Beauty associate through the lens of our well-established values and winning culture.”
About Mary Dillon
Dillon intends to serve as executive chair for a one-year term and, with the board of directors, will continue to help guide strategy while supporting Kimbell in his transition. In her eight years as CEO, Dillon developed and nurtured the company’s winning, inclusive culture and drove significant business growth, having more than tripled market capitalization to more than $18 billion today, doubled the retailers’ fleet of stores, more than doubled its loyalty members and significantly drove its eCommerce capabilities. During her tenure, Ulta Beauty joined both the S&P and Fortune 500 listings and delivered a total shareholder return of 245%.
About Ulta Beauty
At Ulta Beauty, the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrances, skincare products, hair care products, and salon services. In 1990, the Company reinvented the beauty retail experience by offering a new way to shop for beauty – bringing together all things beauty, all in one place. Today, Ulta Beauty has grown to become the top national retailer offering the complete beauty experience.
Ulta Beauty was recently added to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, which tracks the financial performance of public companies committed to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
For more information: https://www.ulta.com/
- Disclaimer - News, data, and statements included in this release are intended exclusively for general information purposes. Talent4Boards does not guarantee that news is accurate or about the correct person and accepts neither liability for the consequences of the reader’s reliance, nor responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Nothing in this release should be considered for decisions about referred securities. Products and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.