CNBC Evolve Livestream: Retail

CNBC Evolve Livestream: Retail
How great companies embrace change, disrupt themselves and fight to stay competitive

This livestream will focus on retail, featuring a conversation with Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass and Chewy’s CEO Sumit Singh led by CNBC’s Courtney Reagan.


HOW TO WATCH: Visit cnbc.com/evolve-events for relevant coverage and to view the livestream

Speakers

Michelle Gass

Michelle Gass is CEO of Kohl’s and is responsible for the company’s long-term growth, profitability, and strategic direction—overseeing its 1,160 store base, ecommerce business, and 100,000 associates across the country. She is committed to building a strong purpose-driven culture, and has accelerated the company’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts and ESG strategies and goals.

Gass has recently set a bold new vision for Kohl's—to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. During her tenure, she led the transformation of the company’s efforts in becoming a leading omnichannel retailer, brought in and elevated notable national brand partnerships, and evolved Kohl's loyalty program into an industry-leading platform. As a champion of driving continuous reinvention for the future, Gass has forged new innovative partnerships with iconic powerful companies, such as Amazon and Sephora, to anticipate the needs of families for today and for tomorrow.

Joining Kohl’s in 2013 as chief customer officer, Gass was named chief merchandising and customer officer in 2015, with responsibility for Kohl’s marketing, merchandising, planning and product development functions. She was promoted to CEO-elect in October 2017 prior to assuming the CEO role in May 2018.

Gass has more than 30 years of experience in the retail and consumer goods industries. Prior to Kohl’s, she spent more than 16 years with Starbucks holding a variety of leadership roles across marketing, strategy, merchandising and operations, including president, Starbucks EMEA. She began her career with Procter & Gamble.

Gass has received numerous professional honors, including being named to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business and Businessperson of the Year lists, as well as being named The Visionary 2020 by the National Retail Federation. Gass currently serves on the Board of Directors for PepsiCo, Retail Industry Leaders Associates, National Retail Federation, and Children’s Wisconsin. She received her undergraduate degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of Washington.

Sumit Singh

(NYSE: CHWY), Singh also serves on Chewy’s Board of Directors. He led the company through its IPO in 2019, raising over $1 billion in the process. Sumit was subsequently named to the 2020 “Bloomberg 50,” Bloomberg Businessweek’s annual list of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who have changed the global business landscape over the past year, and to Comparably’s “Best CEOs 2020.” Prior to joining Chewy, Sumit held senior leadership roles at Amazon and Dell for a combined experience of nearly 20 years of global leadership that spans e-commerce, technology, retail and logistics. He holds a Masters in Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and in 2019 was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni for outstanding achievement. He also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

Under Sumit’s leadership, Chewy is positioned to become the most trusted and convenient destination for pet parents (and partners) everywhere. The company continues to deliver transformative growth, and a clear and steady path to sustainable profitability, made possible by a culture of innovation and a relentless focus on customer experience.

In 2020, the company launched multiple cutting-edge customer facing innovations, including the launch of a free telehealth service called “Connect with a Vet;” its first fully automated, state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Pennsylvania, becoming the first company in the pet segment to launch this level of automation; and launching dedicated service initiatives towards the Shelters & Rescue community, donating upwards of $30 million in FY2020 towards improving pets’ lives.

Chewy’s recent accolades include designation as a “Top 10 Employer Brand” in Boston in both 2019 and 2020, Newsweek’s recognition for “America’s Best Customer Service” for the past three consecutive years (2019-2021), Ad Age’s distinction as one of “America’s 20 Hottest Brands 2020,” and Comparably’s 2020 top rankings for Best Company Culture and Best Companies for Women.

Courtney Reagan

Courtney Reagan is CNBC's Retail Reporter. In 2011, Reagan was named general assignment reporter for CNBC's Business Day programming. She also contributes to NBC's "TODAY," "NBC Nightly News" and "Nightly Business Report" on public television. Reagan also regularly contributes to CNBC.com.

Previously, Reagan anchored the daily business headline reports for CNBC, the NBC affiliate stations, MSNBC and CNBC world. She also worked on CNBC's planning team and was a segment producer for CNBC's "On the Money," where she pitched, wrote and produced feature and news stories and packages for the program. Reagan began her career at CNBC in 2006 on the News Desk.

Prior to CNBC, Reagan participated in the NBC Page program, where she held positions at "Dateline NBC" and "Weekend Today," and also worked in guest relations for the network. Reagan also held positions at ESPN Networks and Merrill Lynch.

She holds bachelor's degrees in finance and mass communication from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Reagan graduated with distinction from NYU's Stern School of Business with a MBA with specializations in economics, luxury marketing and entertainment/media/technology. She was her class recipient of the "Excellence in Economics" for academic achievement in economics while at NYU.

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