Ulta names first chief strategy & growth officer
Ulta Beauty is promoting a veteran executive to a new C-suite role focused on expansion.
The beauty giant has named Kristin Wolf, senior VP of enterprise strategy & new growth, as its new chief strategy & growth officer. In the newly-created role, Ulta says Wolf will continue to lead corporate strategy, corporate development and new growth initiatives, while expanding her scope to drive value creation and partner across the organization in support of the company’s ongoing integration of artificial intelligence.
Wolf joined Ulta in 2019 as VP of corporate strategy. Before joining the retailer, she spent more than four years at Tyson Foods after previously spending seven years at Kraft Foods Group.
“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have Kristin on the Ulta Beauty team since 2019,” said Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman. “She has been instrumental in establishing our Ulta Beauty Unleashed strategy and spearheading new growth initiatives, including the launch of our wellness category and international expansion efforts. As we look to the future, we are confident that Kristin’s strategic leadership will be integral to unleashing even more possibilities and achieving our vision of being the most loved beauty destination.”
Ulta credits Wolf with having led high-impact initiatives during her tenure with the company. These include launching the Prisma Ventures tech-focused corporate venture capital fund, introducing the clean ingredient Conscious Beauty collection, establishing the company’s sustainability vision and first science-based targets, and more.
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“I’m incredibly excited to step into this role at such a defining moment for Ulta Beauty,” said Wolf. “We have an unmatched opportunity to reimagine beauty and wellness retail, expand our global footprint and position Ulta Beauty for long-term, sustainable growth. I’m energized to build on our strong foundation and help shape our next chapter.”
Ulta operated more than 1,500 U.S. stores and 86 company-owned international stores at the end of fiscal 2025. In its most recent quarter, the retailer reported better-than-expected sales, even as its profit fell.
For fiscal 2026, Ulta said it expects net sales growth of 6% to 7% and diluted earnings per share of between $28.05 and $28.55. Same-store sales are expected to grow 2.5% to 3.5%.
