Several fashion and retail giants have announced high-level leadership changes this month. these appointments include new executives at Kohl's, Kering, PVH Corp, and Academy Sports and Outdoors.

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Ryan Waymire brings a Walmart and Amazon pedigree to Kohl's

Kohl's has appointed Ryan Waymire as its chief merchandising officer, effective September 28. According to the report, Waymire arrives from Walmart U.S., where he served as seior vice president of fashion, to lead the department store's efforts to reshape its product offering.

The hiring of Ryan Waymire reflects a broader trend of mid-tier retailers poaching talent from "big box" winners to survive a tightening consumer market. Waymire's 25-year career spans some of the most aggressive operators in the industry, including Amazon, Target, Wayfair, and FabFitFun. By importing a leader with experience at both Amazon and Walmart, Kohl's is signaling a shift toward a more data-driven,volume-centric merchandising strategy.

Matthew Pasch takes the helm of talent for 300+ Academy Sports stores

Academy Sports and Outdoors has named Matthew Pasch as executive vice president and chief people officer. pasch, who joins the company from Burlington Stores where he was executive vice president and chief human resources officer, will succeed the retiring William Ennis.

In this role, Matthew Pasch will oversee human resources, communications, and talent strategy across the corporate offices, distribution centers, and more than 300 Academy Sports and Outdoors stores. As reported, Pasch will report directly to the chief executive officer to align the sporting goods retailer's workforce strategy with its operational goals.

Elisheva Hirshman ends a 27-year legal era at PVH Corp

PVH Corp, the parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, has elevated Elisheva Hirshman to chief legal officer and corporate secretary. The appointment, effective September 4, is part of a succession plan for Mark Fischer, who is retiring after more than 27 years with the company.

Elisheva Hirshman has been with PVH Corp since 2016, initially joining to build the global employment law team. Her tenure has included overseeing commercial litigation and strategic corporate transactions across the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions. Mark Fischer, who established the in-house legal department in 1999, will remain as an advisor until his full retirement next year.

Sabina Belli to manage Kering's 25% global workforce in Italy

Kering has appointed Sabina Belli as executive vice president for Italy, effective September 15. based in Milan, Belli will manage the luxury group's relationships with public institutions and industry organizations in a region that is critical to the company's supply chain.

The importance of this role is underscored by the fact that Italy accounts for more than a quarter of Kering's global workforce. The country hosts the operations for high-end brands including Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Brioni, and Pomellato. Sabina Belli, who joined Kering in 2015 as CEO of Pomellato Group, will also continue to lead the Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze to preserve Italian manufacturing talent.

The missing details on Kohl's 'reshaped' product strategy

While the report highlights that Ryan Waymire was hired to "reshape" the product offering at Kohl's, the specific nature of this pivot remains unverified. It is unclear whether Kohl's intends to lean further into private labels, expand its third-party partnerships, or shift its price points to compete more directly with Walmart. Furthermore, the source does not specify if these leadership changes are tied to any immediate store closures or restructuring plans.