Kohl’s has named Ryan M. Waymire Chief Merchandising Officer, effective September 28. He will report to CEO Michael J. Bender. Waymire brings 25 years of retail experience spanning Walmart, Wayfair, FabFitFun, Amazon and Target. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Fashion at Walmart U.S.
As Chief Merchandising Officer, Waymire will oversee Kohl’s overall merchandise strategy and functions, including buying, omnichannel merchandising, product design and development, allocation and planning, sourcing, and product portfolio strategy.
Before Walmart, Waymire served as GM and Brand President for BirchLane at Wayfair and Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Brand Partnerships at FabFitFun. He also managed apparel and brand partnerships at Amazon and spent nearly a decade in buying, sourcing and merchandising roles at Target.
Waymire replaces Nick Jones, who had served as Kohl’s Chief Merchandising Officer since 2023. Kohl’s operates more than 1,100 stores across 49 states.
KEY QUOTES:
“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. 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.”
Michael J. Bender, CEO of Kohl’s
“I’m excited to join Kohl’s at a transformational moment for the company and for retail. 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.”
Ryan M. Waymire, Incoming Chief Merchandising Officer of Kohl’s
