Kohl's names Walmart veteran Ryan Waymire chief merchandising officer

Ryan M. Waymire is joining Kohl's as chief merchandising officer. He will report to CEO Michael J. Bender, effective September 28, the company announced Tuesday.

Waymire served as senior vice president of fashion at Walmart US for the past three years. He has also held management roles at Target and Amazon during his 25-year career. According to Kohl's statement, he has a proven record of transforming merchandise strategies for a broad customer base.

"I am thrilled to have Ryan join the team. As we intentionally build our business for the future, Ryan will take the next step with our merchandising teams in modernizing our overall product offering - with customers at the center of all decisions," said Bender. "Ryan has deep experience in understanding how to refresh and drive a merchandise strategy for a broad U.S. customer base, and he has an innovative way of integrating meaningful collaborations and social media influencers into product stories. He is an energetic and inspirational leader, with strong partner relationships, and I know he will be an excellent addition to our senior leadership team. He will hit the ground running with our teams."

Waymire replaces Nick Jones, who has been serving as Kohl's CMO since 2023. He will be responsible for Kohl's overall merchandise strategy and all merchandising functions, including buying, omnichannel merchandising, product design and development, allocation and planning, sourcing, and product portfolio strategy.

"I'm excited to join Kohl's at a transformational moment for the company and for retail," said Waymire. "Throughout my career, I've focused on helping retailers and brands deliver what customers want and need while also inspiring them with stylish, high-quality products that bring joy to their lives. I look forward to helping shape Kohl's merchandising strategy and delivering differentiated products and experiences that surprise and delight customers across the country."