Kohl’s taps industry veteran as president, COO

A 30-year retail veteran is joining the C-suite at Kohl’s.

The department store retailer has named Dave Alves as president and COO, reporting to CEO Tom Kingsbury, effective in April.

Most recently, Alves was president and chief retail officer for Bealls Retail Group, overseeing all Bealls Stores, Bealls Outlet Stores, Burkes Outlet Stores and Home Centric. He joined Bealls, which is based in Bradenton, Fla., in 2012, as president.

Prior to joining Bealls, Alves was president and CEO of Sterling Shoes. He also held leadership roles at TJX Canada and TJX Europe, Hudson’s Bay and Sterling Shoes.

“We are thrilled to have Dave join our senior leadership team as we drive the business forward," said Kingsbury. "Kohl's is a tremendous company with a strong and loyal customer base, and Dave is joining us at a time when we are elevating our business and our offerings for the next generation of shoppers. His deep retail background in department stores and off-price, and his experience across U.S. and global markets will be a great addition to our team."

Alves’ appointment comes several weeks after Kohl’s board appointed Kingsbury as permanent CEO. He had been serving in the position in an interim basis since Dec. 2,  following the resignation of Michelle Gass, who left the company to become president of Levi Strauss & Co.

Alves will be responsible for Kohl’s enterprise operations, including its nearly 1,200 stores, global supply chain and distribution centers, real estate portfolio, purchasing, sustainability, risk management and compliance functions.  

"I've long admired the Kohl's brand and business model throughout my career and I am excited to join the team," said Alves. "Retail is a dynamic and fast-paced industry that must constantly evolve with consumer preferences and behaviors, and I think Kohl's does a great job staying true to its heritage while pushing the retail experience forward. I look forward to being part of the company's bright future."