Who is Kecia Steelman? Everything we know about the new CEO of Ulta Beauty

Kecia Steelman has been announced as the new CEO of Ulta Beauty. The previous CEO of Ulta Beauty, Dave Kimbell, took retirement after serving at Ulta Beauty for eleven years (since 2014). The announcement was made on January 6, 2025, through Ulta Beauty press releases.

Dave became the CEO of Ulta Beauty in June 2021. Along with stepping down from the CEO position, he also stepped down from the Board of Directors. Although Kimbell is not a part of Ulta Beauty anymore, he will still serve as an advisor till June 28, 2025.

Kecia Steelman joined Ulta Beauty in July 2014 as a Senior Vice President of store operations. She later served in executive roles and became the Chief Operating Officer in 2023.

Kecia, the previous COO, now president and CEO, will take Dave Kimbell's position on January 6, 2025. She will also be a member of the Board of Directors, which is a part of her position.

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Lorna Nagler, current Chair of Ulta Beauty’s Board of Directors, welcomed Kecia Steelman

Ulta Beauty announced the new CEO transition through their press release on January 6, 2025. In the press release, Lorna Nagler, current Chair of Ulta Beauty’s Board of Directors, thanked Dave for his 11 years of tenure.

She also stated that under Dave's leadership, the company made an annual revenue of more than $11 billion, which led to Ulta Beauty's fast growth.

She welcomed Kecia Steelman by stating,

"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."

She further 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."

Kecia Steelman also thanked Dave for all the support and cooperation and the Board of Directors for trusting her with the position.

"Dave has been a supportive leader, mentor, and friend, and I am honored to become the next CEO of Ulta Beauty. 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." - Kecia Steelman

She further continued:

"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."

As the new CEO of Ulta Beauty, Kecia will be looking after the company's long-term growth, bettering it while protecting it from market challenges, strengthening its values, and making the environment beneficial and positive for the partners and stakeholders.

Ulta Beauty's competitor, Sephora, recently partnered with Kohl's for the expansion, leading to low sales and financial challenges. This is taken care of through Target's partnership with Ulta, which is helping with the financial demands and expansion.

In the future, Ulta Beauty is also planning to open new stores in Mexico for further expansion under Steelman's guidance.

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Timeline of Kecia Steelman's career and her journey to the role of Ulta Beauty's new CEO

January 2025: Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty

September 2023: President and Chief Operating Officer at Ulta Beauty

June 2021: Chief Operating Officer at Ulta Beauty

September 2015: Chief Store Operations Officer at Ulta Beauty

August 2014: Senior Vice President, Store Operations at Ulta Beauty

2009-2014: Vice President at Family Dollar Stores

2005-2009: Vice President and General Manager at The Home Depot

1993-2005: Retail operations and merchandising roles at Target

Kecia Steelman is also a board member at Adler Planetarium and Metropolitan Family Services.

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Kecia Steelman takes the new position of CEO at Ulta Beauty on January 6, 2025. Dave Kimbell will work as an advisor till June 28, 2025.