C-Suite Moves: July update
Here are the major C-suite changes that occurred in July, in the order they were announced. (All changes have already taken effect unless otherwise noted.)
- PGA Tour Superstore has named Troy Rice as its next CEO, effective Sept. 2. He succeeds longtime leader Dick Sullivan, who announced his plans to retire earlier this year. Rice will join the golf retailer from Total Wine & More, which he had led for the past three and a half years.
- Maggie Gauger will join Gap Inc. as global brand president and CEO Athleta, effective Aug. 1, as Chris Blakeslee “steps down” from the role. Gauger, who is Athleta's third CEO in two years, joins the company with more than 20 years of experience in key leadership roles.
- J.McLaughlin named Greg Unis as CEO. Unis has served as interim CEO since March 2025, following the departure of Mary Ellen Coyne who left to take the reins at J.Jill. Most recently, Unis served as president of Victoria's Secret and Pink.
- Young men’s and women’s casual apparel and accessories retailer Tilly’s appointed Nate Smith as president, CEO and director, effective Aug. 18. He will succeed Tilly’s co-founder Hezy Shaked who will transition into the executive chairman role effective on that date. Smith has served as CEO of Marolina Outdoor since September 2024. Previously, from June 2017 to April 2024, he was president, Americas, at Boardriders.
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- Sleep Number CFO Francis Lee has stepped down. Bob Ryder has been appointed interim CFO, effective July 21.
- Nordstrom Inc. has appointed Kelly Dilts as CFO, effective Aug. 29. Dilts succeeds Cathy Smith, who left Nordstrom earlier this year to become CFO of Starbucks Corp. Dilts joins the company from Dollar General, where she has served as executive VP and CFO since 2023.
- Saks Global tapped Brandy Richardson as CFO, effective Aug. 18. She joins the company from Tailored Brands Inc., parent company of Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores and K&G Fashion Superstore, where she has served as executive VP and CFO since late 2021.
- Kohl’s appointed Arianne Parisi as chief digital officer. Most recently, she served as chief digital officer for U.K.-based global sports fashion and outdoor retailer JD Sports Fashion Plc.
- Pool and spa supplies retailer Leslie’s tapped Amy College as chief merchandising and supply chain officer, succeeding Moyo LaBode. Most recently, she spent nearly five years at Petco, including serving as as chief merchandising officer and supply chain officer.
- Edible Brands named Matthew Walls as president and chief stores officer. He joins the company from Caribou Coffee, where he spent almost three years, and most recently served as chief development officer and head of international.
- L.L.Bean president and CEO Stephen Smith will depart the company in the spring of 2026 following decade of leadership. The company has initiated a search for Smith's successor, with an extended transition period in place to support a “seamless transition.”
- Rack Room Shoes, which operates stores under the Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse brands, promoted Brian Burnett, senior VP, general merchandise manager, to senior VP, chief merchandise officer. And Molly Hartney, chief marketing officer, has been promoted to the newly created role of chief digital officer.
- Kirklands, which was set to change its corporate name to The Brand House Collective pending shareholder approval at the company's annual meeting on July 24, named Andrea Courtois as senior VP and CFO. She most recently served as VP of financial planning and analysis at Francesca’s.
