Kohl’s Corporation has appointed Michael J. Bender as its new CEO, effective 23 November 2025, following a strong interim tenure. With three decades of retail experience, Bender pledges a renewed customer-first approach and accelerated transformation, earning unanimous Board support as he leads the company toward stability, clarity, and competitive resurgence.
Michael J. Bender’s appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer of Kohl’s Corporation marks a defining moment for one of America’s most recognisable retail chains, closing a year of uncertainty and setting the stage for a renewed strategic vision. Effective 23 November 2025, Bender steps into the role after serving as interim CEO—a period during which he earned the full confidence of the company’s Board of Directors. Their unanimous decision reflects both trust in his leadership and belief in his ability to guide Kohl’s through a complex retail environment marked by shifting consumer behaviour, relentless competition, and accelerating digital transformation.
Bender is no stranger to the demands of modern retail. With a career spanning over three decades across the retail and consumer-goods sectors, he brings with him a wealth of experience from some of the world’s most influential companies. His tenure as President and CEO of Eyemart Express showcased his capacity to strengthen business fundamentals and lead growth across a national retail network. Prior to that, he served in high-impact leadership roles at Walmart, L Brands (Victoria’s Secret & Co.), and PepsiCo—organisations known for scale, operational rigour, and deep customer engagement. At each stop, Bender earned a reputation for clarity, focus, and the ability to build teams grounded in culture and purpose.
His internal rise at Kohl’s comes at a time when the company is working to define its path in a competitive marketplace. The retail landscape has been reshaped by inflation pressures, evolving fashion trends, digital commerce acceleration, and shifting expectations about convenience and value. Amid this backdrop, Bender’s interim leadership gave the Board an early glimpse of his potential to stabilise operations while also pushing the company toward a more forward-looking stance. His approach—structured yet empathetic, strategic yet grounded in day-to-day realities—made a strong impression across all levels of the organisation.
In his statement following the announcement, Bender spoke with a tone of gratitude and ambition, acknowledging the legacy of the Kohl’s brand while placing customers squarely at the centre of the company’s future. He emphasised his belief in “putting our customers first every day,” signalling a return to fundamentals at a time when retailers are fighting harder than ever for consumer loyalty. For him, customer-centric thinking is not merely a slogan but a guiding philosophy that must shape everything from merchandising decisions to store experiences, digital offerings, loyalty programs, and brand partnerships.
Bender’s comments also highlighted his commitment to accelerating transformation across the organisation. Over the past few years, Kohl’s has been experimenting with new store formats, category diversification, digital expansions, and brand collaborations. Some initiatives delivered impressive traction; others posed challenges. His leadership suggests a desire to streamline, sharpen, and imbue the company’s strategy with renewed discipline. The promise to work closely with associates, vendors, and partners reflects an understanding that transformation must be collaborative if it is to be sustainable. It signals respect for the people who contribute daily to the customer experience—from store floors to supply-chain networks to design teams.
The Board’s confidence in Bender indicates that they see in him the rare combination of strategic foresight and cultural leadership needed for a large-scale turnaround. Much of retail success today depends on agility—quick decision-making, rapid product cycles, and seamless integration between digital and physical operations. But long-term success also hinges on culture: a workforce aligned around shared values, empowered leaders, and a customer-first mindset embedded across every function. During his interim tenure, Bender demonstrated his ability to instil this cultural shift, encouraging open communication, transparency, and renewed purpose.
Kohl’s employees, too, appear to recognise the promise of his leadership. Early internal feedback has pointed to improved morale, clearer direction, and a sense of stability after a period of turbulence. Bender’s style—approachable but decisive—has helped position him as a unifying figure within the company. His inclusive leadership approach is expected to shape the next phase of internal development, particularly as the company recalibrates its priorities in merchandising, technology investment, and partner relationships.
Externally, the retail industry will be watching closely. Kohl’s remains a major force in American retail, serving millions of shoppers across hundreds of stores. Its performance has implications not just for shareholders but for local economies, vendor ecosystems, and retail trends more broadly. Under Bender, analysts expect the company to place a stronger emphasis on operational efficiency, product relevance, and deeper customer engagement, both in stores and online. His background at Walmart and PepsiCo—organisations built on operational excellence—suggests he will drive stronger execution and consistency across the business. At the same time, his experience at Victoria’s Secret & Co. hints at potential opportunities for revitalising key categories and reconnecting with core customer segments.
One of the most significant aspects of Bender’s appointment is the message it sends about continuity and stability. Instead of a disruptive leadership shake-up, Kohl’s has chosen someone who has already proven his ability to navigate the organisation’s challenges from within. This stability could enable the company to accelerate ongoing initiatives rather than starting from scratch, ultimately giving Kohl’s a competitive advantage as consumer habits continue to evolve.
Looking ahead, Bender faces a retail landscape full of possibility and pressure. The company’s success will depend on how effectively he can balance innovation with discipline, growth with efficiency, and tradition with reinvention. But if his early leadership is any indication, he is prepared for the challenge. His belief in the power of people—customers, associates, and partners alike—suggests that Kohl’s may be entering a new chapter grounded in collaboration, clarity, and purpose.
For now, the message from Kohl’s is clear: the company has found in Michael J. Bender a leader ready to steer it through the next era of retail. His appointment marks both a culmination of his extensive career and the beginning of a new phase for the organisation he now leads. As he steps into the role permanently, Kohl’s signals its commitment to growth, stability, and renewed customer focus—an outlook that could define the company’s trajectory well into the future.
