Skip to content
All about finance. — Leadership — Finance — Ai — Business — War — Technology — Lifestyle — Careers

Levi Strauss & Co. widens executive roles within its top leadership tier.

Layoffs of up to 15% of the company's global workforce globally are being implemented as part of a cost-cutting strategy aimed at fostering long-term profitability.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Layoffs expected in up to 15% of the company's global workforce to achieve cost reductions and...
Layoffs expected in up to 15% of the company's global workforce to achieve cost reductions and foster long-term growth.

Levi Strauss & Co. widens executive roles within its top leadership tier.

Going Separate Ways: Key Executive Shuffles at Levi's

  • Levi Strauss & Co's COO, Liz O'Neill, is hanging up her boots, effective March 1st. The company is replacing the COO role with a new Chief Supply Chain Officer position. This change is part of six C-suite leadership adjustments announced on Tuesday.
  • Bernard Bedon, currently with Nike, takes over as the company's next Chief Human Resources Officer, kicking off March 3rd.
  • Notably, four executives have taken on expanded responsibilities. Karyn Hillman now commands the overall vision, priorities, and roadmap for the Levi's brand and its products. Jason Gowans, in his revised role, is the chief digital and technology officer, enhancing digital capabilities and operations across platforms. Harmit Singh, as the new Chief Financial and Growth Officer, oversees the expansion of the Levi's shared services model and leads the company's transformation initiatives. Gianluca Flore's extended focus includes ensuring more harmonious alignment between sales and inventory.

A New Course for Levi's: Innovative Transformation and Strategic Priorities

Levi's has declared these leadership changes are aimed at bolstering innovation, reducing complexity, aligning the company structure with strategic priorities, streamlining decision-making, and improving speed and agility. The moves come hot on the heels of the company's confirmation to lay off 10-15% of its global corporate workforce - part of a two-year turnaround initiative aiming to generate $100 million in net cost savings.

In the announcement, Levi's lays out the expanded responsibilities for its C-Suite leaders moving forward. Karyn Hillman's role now centers on setting the overall vision, priorities, and roadmap for the Levi's brand and its products. Jason Gowans manages digital and enterprise technology functions while enhancing digital capabilities and operations across platforms.

Harmit Singh will not only oversee the company transformation initiatives but will also expand the Levi's shared services model. Gianluca Flore's extended focus includes ensuring tighter alignment between sales and inventory.

Liz O'Neill remains in Levi's employ, acting as a consultant from March 1st through August 1st.

Welcoming Fresh Blood: Additions to the Levi's Board

Artemis Patrick, president and CEO of Sephora North America, has joined the Levi's board on February 1st. Starting next month, she'll serve on the board's audit and nominating, governance, and corporate citizenship committees.

Levi's struggled to grow its bottom line, ending its most recent fiscal year with flat revenues and net income of $249.6 million, a 56% drop from the previous year.

A Closer Look: Background and Implications

  • While specifics about the creation of the new Chief Supply Chain Officer position are scarce, existing leadership changes and strategic initiatives suggest an emphasis on enhancing the company's financial performance, innovation, and adaptability.
  • In her new role, Lisa Stirling, formerly Global Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, might hone her regional finance management expertise, potentially improving financial decision-making in the U.S. and Canada.
  • The shifts within the organization could introduce temporary complexity but might lead to more streamlined decision-making once new roles are fully established.
  • By focusing on balanced expansion and strategic initiatives, Levi Strauss & Co aims to achieve significant earnings growth by FY25, potentially increasing its speed and agility in adapting to market changes and consumer preferences.
  • Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs could contribute to a more agile and responsive organization by introducing diverse perspectives to the table.
  1. The leadership reshuffling at Levi's, as indicated by the creation of a new Chief Supply Chain Officer position and other C-suite adjustments, appears to be a strategic move aimed at boosting innovation, streamlining decision-making, and improving speed and agility.
  2. The arrival of Artemis Patrick, president and CEO of Sephora North America, as a new member of the Levi's board opens up opportunities for fresh insights, particularly in the areas of the board's audit and nominating, governance, and corporate citizenship committees.
  3. The expanded responsibilities of Karyn Hillman, Jason Gowans, Harmit Singh, and Gianluca Flore within Levi's C-suite indicate a focus on setting the overall vision for the brand and its products, managing digital and enterprise technology functions, overseeing company transformation initiatives, expanding the Levi's shared services model, and ensuring alignment between sales and inventory, respectively.
  4. With Liz O'Neill taking on a consulting role from March 1st through August 1st, Levi's will be leveraging her expertise and experience to help navigate key business challenges and growth opportunities in the coming months. Furthermore, the commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs could contribute to a more agile and responsive organization by fostering a culture that embraces and benefits from diverse perspectives.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest