Dive Brief:
- Siobhán Mc Feeney, chief technology and digital officer at Kohl's, departed the company on Wednesday after nearly three years in the role, according to a Tuesday securities filing.
- Mc Feeney, who joined the firm in 2020 as SVP of technology, rose to the C-suite in 2022 after the departure of Paul Gaffney, who at the time served as chief technology and supply chain officer.
- "We thank Siobhán for her leadership and wish her all the best in her future endeavors," said Jen Johnson, SVP, Corporate Communications at Kohl's, in an email to CIO Dive Wednesday. The company plans to conduct a comprehensive search to fill the position, Johnson said.
Dive Insight:
Mc Feeney's sudden departure from Kohl’s comes during a time of a broader leadership shift at the ailing retailer.
CEO Ashley Buchanan took the helm on Jan. 15, with plans to bring the company back to growth after sales plummeted during its last fiscal year. Buchanan, a Walmart veteran, most recently led craft retailer Michaels as its CEO for five years.
Buchanan's technology know-how was highlighted in the CEO transition announcement.
"During his time at Michaels, he improved profitability and cash flow while driving operational efficiencies across the business," said Kohl’s Board Chair Michael Bender in a press release. "He also introduced new ways to leverage technology and e-commerce, allowing Michaels to more effectively meet customers where they are today."
Kohl’s saw net sales slide in its last fiscal year, falling 7.2% year-over-year to $15.4 billion, according to a March earnings report. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to shutter 27 stores and a California e-commerce fulfillment center.
"I want to be realistic in how we are setting our expectations," Buchanan said during the earnings call. "My full review of the business and go-forward strategy is still ongoing. The actions we are taking in 2025 are a step in the right direction, but there's more work to be done to unlock the full potential of this company."
Kohl's will look for a tech executive replacement as most retail firms plow forward with AI deployment plans. More than half of retail businesses are experimenting with AI, with supply chain optimization as the most popular use case, according to a recent Databricks report.
