Levi Strauss makes leadership moves for growth

Levi Strauss has made a series of leadership moves to streamline decision-making and consolidate accountability for core business growth drivers. It has appointed Liz O’Neill as executive vice president and president to create a consolidated product, innovation and supply chain.

“As we adapt to the changing retail environment in pursuit of our long-term goals, the leadership changes we are announcing will accelerate our drive to deliver sustainable, profitable growth around the world,” said Chip Bergh, president and CEO of Levi Strauss.

Levi Strauss has taken action to create a consolidated Product, Innovation and Supply Chain organisation led by Liz O’Neill, who has been appointed executive vice president and president. This new organisation combines the key product functions of design, merchandising, product development and planning into a single team; further integrates supply chain into the consumer journey; and enhances the company’s opportunity to fully leverage emerging innovations like Project FLX technology.
Formerly Levi Strauss’s chief supply chain officer, O’Neill brings more than two decades of apparel experience to this newly created role. She will be responsible for the end-to-end view of the product lifecycle, from ideation to what ultimately shows up in stores and online.

The company is trying to establish a new Direct-to-Consumer organisation led by Marc Rosen, executive vice president and president. Rosen, who previously led Levi Strauss’s ecommerce business, will now be responsible for delivering a seamless consumer experience across both brick-and-mortar and ecommerce. Rosen is a veteran retailer who was one of Walmart’s most respected business leaders for nearly 15 years.

With the consolidation of Levi Strauss’s brick-and-mortar and ecommerce organisations, Carrie Ask, executive vice president and president, global retail, is leaving Levi Strauss to pursue another role.
The company has promoted Jen Sey, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, to report to Bergh. Sey, a 19-year veteran of Levi Strauss and most recently chief marketing officer for the Levi’s brand, has spearheaded the Levi’s brand’s resurgence. Marketing has fueled this growth, and Levi Strauss continues to increase investment in this important driver.

Levi Strauss aims to establish a new Strategy and Analytics organisation, elevating the importance of data and analytics and pairing it with strategy. The company is currently recruiting for an executive to lead this organisation.

As Levi Strauss moves to implement these changes, James “JC” Curleigh, president, global brands, announced his plans to leave the company to pursue new opportunities. Over the past six years, Curleigh and his team have returned the Levi’s brand to profitable growth through a strategic focus on building brand energy.