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Gass

Operator

Michelle Gass is the President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., having taken the helm of the iconic denim brand in 2023. She is known for her strong track record in brand building, consumer marketing, and retail transformation, making her one of the most prominent female CEOs in the consumer goods and apparel sector. Before joining Levi's, Gass served as CEO of Kohl's, where she led the department store chain through a period of significant strategic repositioning, including high-profile brand partnerships and a push into active and casual wear. Prior to Kohl's, she spent nearly two decades at Starbucks in a variety of senior roles, including Chief Marketing Officer and President of Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, where she was instrumental in driving global brand expansion and marketing innovation. Gass is widely regarded as a seasoned operator with deep expertise in consumer brand strategy, retail marketing, and global brand management. Her career spans some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world, and she is recognized for her ability to drive growth through brand clarity, customer experience, and strategic partnerships.

Last updated Oct 25, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment

Company
Levi Strauss
Based
San Francisco, California, United States
Boards
1

AI-drafted from public sources1 source cited

Years in industry
30 years

Bio

Michelle Gass is the President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., having taken the helm of the iconic denim brand in 2023. She is known for her strong track record in brand building, consumer marketing, and retail transformation, making her one of the most prominent female CEOs in the consumer goods and apparel sector. Before joining Levi's, Gass served as CEO of Kohl's, where she led the department store chain through a period of significant strategic repositioning, including high-profile brand partnerships and a push into active and casual wear. Prior to Kohl's, she spent nearly two decades at Starbucks in a variety of senior roles, including Chief Marketing Officer and President of Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, where she was instrumental in driving global brand expansion and marketing innovation. Gass is widely regarded as a seasoned operator with deep expertise in consumer brand strategy, retail marketing, and global brand management. Her career spans some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world, and she is recognized for her ability to drive growth through brand clarity, customer experience, and strategic partnerships.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Consumer Brand StrategyRetail MarketingGlobal Brand ManagementBrand PartnershipsCustomer ExperienceApparel and FashionRetail TransformationMarketing Leadership

Education

  • MBA, Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business
  • BS, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Speaking topics

Consumer Brand StrategyRetail TransformationWomen in LeadershipGlobal Brand Building

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Appointed President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. in 2023, one of the world's most iconic apparel brands
  • As CEO of Kohl's, orchestrated a major strategic partnership with Sephora to drive store traffic and brand relevance
  • Played a key role in Starbucks' global marketing expansion and brand growth during her tenure as CMO

Awards

Named to Fortune's Most Powerful Women list multiple times