Levi Strauss puts analytics vet in charge of artificial intelligence
Levi Strauss & Co. is naming a veteran analytical technology executive to the newly created position of senior VP and chief strategy and artificial intelligence officer.
Katia Walsh will join Levi Strauss in this role effective April 29, 2019. The position is designed to help the company translate data analytics into decisions that drive business value and competitive advantage.
Walsh will be responsible for building the data, analytics and artificial intelligence enablers to support innovation, new business, new business models and strategic growth initiatives. She will report to Chip Bergh, president and CEO, and will be a member of the global leadership team.
“Katia’s expertise in data and analytics, including big data platforms, analytics services, machine learning products, and digital solutions will be essential to setting Levi Strauss & Co. on a course of continued industry leadership,” said Bergh. “She is a talented team builder and positive change agent, capable of translating data products into successful commercial initiatives and consumer experiences. I am confident that she will make a big impact at Levi Strauss.”
Walsh joins Levi Strauss from Vodafone, where she was the company’s first chief data and analytics officer. She has also held strategic data analytics leadership positions at Prudential Financial and Fidelity Investments, where she drove customer-centric innovations. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in strategic communication with a specialization in quantitative methodology.
“Levi Strauss & Co. is more than an iconic company; it’s also an innovation leader across industries,” said Walsh. “Strategic harnessing of data and machine learning will help position it for its next 165 years, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth.”
Katia Walsh will join Levi Strauss in this role effective April 29, 2019. The position is designed to help the company translate data analytics into decisions that drive business value and competitive advantage.
Walsh will be responsible for building the data, analytics and artificial intelligence enablers to support innovation, new business, new business models and strategic growth initiatives. She will report to Chip Bergh, president and CEO, and will be a member of the global leadership team.
“Katia’s expertise in data and analytics, including big data platforms, analytics services, machine learning products, and digital solutions will be essential to setting Levi Strauss & Co. on a course of continued industry leadership,” said Bergh. “She is a talented team builder and positive change agent, capable of translating data products into successful commercial initiatives and consumer experiences. I am confident that she will make a big impact at Levi Strauss.”
Walsh joins Levi Strauss from Vodafone, where she was the company’s first chief data and analytics officer. She has also held strategic data analytics leadership positions at Prudential Financial and Fidelity Investments, where she drove customer-centric innovations. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in strategic communication with a specialization in quantitative methodology.
“Levi Strauss & Co. is more than an iconic company; it’s also an innovation leader across industries,” said Walsh. “Strategic harnessing of data and machine learning will help position it for its next 165 years, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth.”