Kecia Steelman

Kecia Steelman is the Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty, the largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States with over 1,300 stores. She assumed the CEO role in early 2025, succeeding Dave Kimbell, after a long career at the company during which she held senior operational leadership positions. Steelman is widely regarded as an operator who built her reputation from the ground up within Ulta's store and supply chain infrastructure. Steelman spent roughly two decades at Ulta Beauty, rising through roles in store operations and logistics before becoming Chief Operating Officer, a position in which she oversaw the company's physical retail footprint, supply chain, and store experience. Her ascent to CEO reflected the board's confidence in operational continuity at a time when Ulta faces intensifying competition in the beauty retail space. Ulta Beauty is a significant media and marketing platform in its own right, operating a robust loyalty program with tens of millions of members and a retail media network that allows beauty brands to reach consumers at the point of purchase — making Steelman's leadership directly relevant to brand marketing and retail media investment decisions.

Last updated Oct 25, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment