Kohl's New COO
Kohl's Appoints Former Foot Locker COO Elliott Rodgers to Oversee Enterprise Operations
Key Points
Rodgers said, “I’m honored to join Kohl’s and be a part of the company’s strategic path forward,” adding he is “energized by Kohl’s commitment to serving its customers now and for years to come,” and plans to contribute to teams “already have underway” to “creat[e] a compelling customer experience and [pave] a path for the future.”
Kohl’s SEC filing says Rodgers is age 50, accepted the appointment on June 10, 2026, and that the role becomes effective Sept. 9, 2026. It also notes his background as a “Captain in the U.S. Army,” with a B.S. from West Point and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
The SEC filing further discloses Rodgers’ board service: he “served on the board of directors of Levi Strauss & Co.” and “resigned effective June 1” (as described in the filing excerpt) in connection with his appointment as COO.
An analyst/market update cited by GuruFocus reported insider activity around the announcement: “5 insider selling transactions in the past 3 months, with no insider buying.”
Another report provided the specific stock-price moves: shares fell 4.76% in regular trading and then dropped an additional 0.35% to $17.14 in after-hours activity.
Kohl's has named Elliott Rodgers as its new chief operating officer, with the role taking effect September 9, 2026. Rodgers, 50, will report directly to CEO Michael J. Bender and oversee operations across nearly 1,200 stores, according to Nasdaq.
The hire fills a position that has been empty since 2023, when the previous COO left after just a few months, Retail Dive noted. Kohl's shares fell 4.76% during regular trading on the day of the announcement and slid an additional 0.35% to $17.14 in after-hours activity.
Rodgers Brings 20 Years of Retail Operations Experience
Rodgers most recently served as COO at Foot Locker. Before that, he held senior supply chain and technology roles at Ulta Beauty and Target. He also worked at Citigroup and logistics tech firm project44, according to Fashion United.
He is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Captain who later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, per Kohl's SEC filing. He formally accepted the Kohl's offer on June 10, 2026, and resigned from the Levi Strauss & Co. board of directors on June 1 to clear the way for the role.
Rodgers Will Run Stores, Supply Chain, and Loss Prevention
In his new role, Rodgers will oversee Kohl's global supply chain, distribution centers, procurement, and loss prevention. Those functions touch every one of the company's nearly 1,200 stores, Home Textiles Today reported.
CEO Bender said Rodgers' experience managing
CEO Bender said Rodgers' track record running large-scale operations and managing frontline workers will be
Rodgers Calls the Move an Opportunity to Serve Customers
Rodgers struck an upbeat tone in the announcement.
Rodgers struck an upbeat tone in the announcement. He said he is
Insider Selling and a Falling Stock Price Cloud the News
The market did not greet the news warmly. Kohl's stock dropped 4.76% during regular trading on June 16. It then fell another 0.35% to $17.14 after hours, according to financial wire reports.
Insider activity added to the cautious mood. GuruFocus reported five insider selling transactions at Kohl's in the three months before the announcement, with zero insider buying. That pattern often signals that those closest to the company are not yet confident in a near-term recovery.
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