PodcastsJan 12, 2026
The latest poscasttest
MajorsSep 26, 2017
Kohl’s Will Have a New CEO Next Year
Kevin Mansell is retiring and will be replaced by Chief Merchandising and Customer Officer Michelle Gass.
Michelle Gass, right, will take over as CEO of Kohl’s Corp. next spring, succeeding Kevin Mansell, left, who started with the retailer as a divisional merchandise manager in 1982 and became its CEO in 2008.
Menomonee Falls, Wis.--Off-price department store chain Kohl’s announced Tuesday that President and CEO Kevin Mansell will retire in May 2018 after the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
Chief Merchandising and Customer Officer Michelle Gass will become the retailer’s new CEO, with Chief Operating Officer Sona Chawla stepping into the role of president.
Mansell, 65, has been with Kohl’s for a total of 35 years. He has spent 19 years on the board and almost 10 years as CEO.
Gass, 49, joined Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer, heading the retailer’s marketing and e-commerce business. In 2015, her role expanded to include responsibility for merchandising, planning and product development.
Before she worked at Kohl’s, Gass spent about 17 years at Starbucks overseeing marketing, beverage and food merchandising, and global strategy.
As president, she will maintain her responsibilities for the retailer’s omnichannel operations.
The change in leadership at Kohl’s comes at a time when brick-and-mortar retailers are under immense pressure from online competitors and are struggling to reinvent themselves in the digital age.
Many are closing hundreds of stores while downsizing others, and funneling resources into digital operations while, at the same time, trying to give consumers a reason to come into stores.
Like Kohl’s, many retailers, including jewelry industry giants Signet Jewelers and Tiffany & Co., are making changes at the top.
Ahead of the holiday season, Kohl’s announced that it is partnering with Amazon to open shop-in-shops at 10 of its stores in the Los Angeles and Chicago areas that will sell Amazon “smart” home products, like Amazon Echo and Fire TV.
In the company statement announcing his retirement, Mansell credited Gass with engineering the retailer’s partnership with Amazon.
“The retail industry is going through a transformational amount of change and Michelle is extremely qualified and positioned to lead Kohl’s through this evolution,” he said.
Kohl’s said its board plans to appoint one of its current independent members as chairman when Mansell retires next spring. Gass will be nominated to fill the vacancy created by Mansell’s retirement.
Kohl’s Corp. ranked No. 22 on National Jeweler’s 2016 “$100 Million Supersellers” list, with an estimated $279 million in watch and jewelry sales in 2015.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Majors
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
SurveysOct 07, 2024
Hill & Co.’s New ‘Business of Jewelry Report’ Is OutThe first in what is slated to be a series of in-depth reports from the consulting company, it focuses on shortening supply chains.
