The retail C-suite shifts to know in August

August brought with it retail CMOs on the move, newly created C-suite roles, and two exec departures at a company that’s getting a new CEO next month. Here’s the major C-suite news to know this month:

• After declining sales for Old Navy in the second quarter, Gap Inc named Michael Francis as the next CEO of Old Navy, succeeding Haio Barbeito. Francis, former CMO of Target, joined the retailer as chief customer officer in May and will take over the role on November 2.
• Home Depot CEO Ted Decker is temporarily stepping down from his role for medical reasons. CFO Richard McPhail and Senior EVP of US Store and Operations Ann-Marie Campbell will take over in the interim.
• Target named Chandhu Nair to the role of its first-ever chief AI officer, aiming to offer a “more coordinated approach” to AI for the retailer. Nair was previously SVP of stores, data, AI, and innovation at Lowe’s.
• Lululemon saw two C-suite departures the month before new CEO Heidi O’Neill is set to take over: Chief Strategy Officer Rachel Acheson left after 14 years with the company, and, days later, its first-ever chief AI and technology officer, Ranju Das, exited his role after less than a year.
• After QVC Group emerged from bankruptcy, President and CEO David Rawlinson exited his role, with Mike George, the group’s former president and CEO who retired in 2021, taking over.
• Kroger tapped Walmart veteran Nate Faust as its EVP and chief e-commerce officer. Faust, co-founder of Jet.com and Walmart’s former e-commerce supply chain leader, joins fellow Walmart alum, CEO Greg Foran, at the grocer.
• LVMH announced Balenciaga COO Alexandre Oulès will serve in the newly created role of COO of its beauty division, which houses brands like Fenty Beauty and Ole Henriksen.
• Following last month’s C-suite shuffle, Best Buy CMO Jennie Weber departed the retailer, with Chief Creative Officer Marty Senn assuming her role.
• Albertsons appointed Emily Turner, CMO at specialty grocer The Fresh Market, as its SVP and CMO. She fills a role that’s been vacant since previous CMO Sean Barrett exited last year.
• Abercrombie & Fitch CMO Carey Collins Krug left her role to fill the same position at Vuori.
• Olipop co-founder Ben Goodwin stepped down as CEO, bringing on Christian Patiño Webb, CEO of hydration beverage brand Electrolit, to fill the role.
• Sun care brand Vacation hired Nelson Miranda, former Revlon and P&G exec who most recently served as CEO of the parent company of Not Your Mother’s Haircare, as its new CEO.