Ulta Beauty is starting the new year off with some very exciting leadership changes.
The specialty beauty retailer announced on Monday that after 11 years with the company, Dave Kimbell is retiring from his role as Chief Executive Officer and will be stepping down from Ulta Beauty’s Board of Directors. Kecia Steelman, who is currently President and Chief Operating Officer at the beauty retailer, will succeed Kimbell as President and CEO, in addition to joining the company’s Board, effective immediately.
According to the company’s press release, Kimbell is set to serve as an advisor to the company through June 28th, 2025.
“On behalf of the Board, we are grateful to Dave for his guidance, dedication, and integrity, and for the significant contributions he has made to Ulta Beauty,” said Lorna Nagler, Chair of Ulta Beauty’s Board of Directors, in a statement. “Dave has demonstrated a deep commitment to unlocking the power of beauty for our guests and advancing Ulta Beauty’s market leadership. He has played a meaningful role in shaping Ulta Beauty into the company we are today, and we appreciate his continued service as an advisor during this transition.”
Throughout his time at the company, Kimbell was a steadfast champion of Ulta Beauty associates, guests, communities, and its unique culture. He became Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty in 2021 after serving in executive roles with the company since 2014. During his time as CEO, Ulta Beauty grew to more than $11 billion in annual revenue and delivered double-digit growth in diluted earrings per share, and his values-based leadership and commitment to ensuring beauty is inclusive enabled Ulta Beauty to enhance its market leadership, drive record-level brand love and awareness, and expand its world-class loyalty program.
“Serving as CEO of Ulta Beauty has been the highlight of my career, and I am proud to have led and worked alongside so many associates who are passionate about delivering great experiences for our guests,” said Kimbell. “Kecia is a strategic leader with a proven record of driving operational excellence and creating exceptional guest experiences while fostering a caring and inclusive culture. I have every confidence she will expand Ulta Beauty’s leadership in beauty and wellness.”
Nagler continued, “As a result of the Board’s robust succession planning process, we are pleased to name Kecia Steelman as the new President and CEO of Ulta Beauty. Kecia is a world-class business executive with deep beauty and retail expertise, an unwavering commitment to effective execution, and a profound passion for our guests and associates. She has been instrumental in developing our recently refreshed strategic framework, and we are confident that she is the right person to lead Ulta Beauty forward.”
Since 2014, Steelman had served in a variety of executive roles within Ulta Beauty, before being named President and Chief Operating Officer in 2023. Highly regarded within the retail and beauty industry for her inclusive and thoughtful leadership, she has been pivotal in developing and executing the company’s strategies to deliver profitable growth. During her more than 10 years with Ulta Beauty she has consistently driven exceptional execution, while fostering strong external partnerships and a collaborative culture. Her track record of success spans her tenure with the company and is rooted in deep expertise across retail operations and services, real estate, corporate strategy, and business transformation.
“Dave has been a supportive leader, mentor, and friend, and I am honored to become the next CEO of Ulta Beauty,” said Steelman, in regards to her recent appointment. “Ulta Beauty is more than a beauty retailer — we are a destination that helps bring to life all the beautiful possibilities that lie within every guest and associate who walks through our doors. I am confident the strategic priorities we shared last fall will enable us to capture greater market share in beauty and wellness and deliver long-term profitable growth, and I am excited to lead our outstanding teams as we unlock even greater advantages of our operating model, drive best-in-class execution, and position Ulta Beauty for our next chapter of growth as the beauty destination for a lifetime.”
To follow Steelman’s journey as Ulta Beauty’s new CEO, make sure to follow @ultabeauty_ceo on Instagram.
