Kecia Steelman | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Employer | Ulta Beauty |
| Title | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| Board member of | Adler Planetarium |
Kecia L. Steelman is an American business executive who has served as president and chief executive officer of Ulta Beauty since January 2025. [1] [2] She previously held senior roles at Target Corporation, The Home Depot and Family Dollar before joining Ulta Beauty in 2014, where she advanced through store operations leadership to chief operating officer (2021) and president and COO (2023). [3]
Steelman began her career at Target Corporation in 1993, serving in retail operations and merchandising roles through 2005. She then joined The Home Depot as vice president and general manager for Expo Design Center, Home Depot Design Center and YardBIRDs, and later as director of new store innovations (2005–2009). From 2009 to 2014, she worked at Family Dollar in store development and operations leadership, becoming group vice president in 2011. [3]
Steelman joined Ulta Beauty in July 2014 as senior vice president of store operations and was named chief store operations officer in September 2015. She became chief operating officer in June 2021 and president and COO in September 2023, overseeing corporate strategy, store and services operations, supply chain and the company’s shop-in-shop partnership Ulta Beauty at Target. [3] [4]
On 6 January 2025, Ulta Beauty announced that Steelman would succeed Dave Kimbell as president and CEO and join the company’s board of directors. [2] [1] As CEO, she has overseen Ulta Beauty’s international expansion, including the July 2025 acquisition of UK retailer Space NK. [5] In August 2025, the company raised its annual sales and profit forecast after topping quarterly sales estimates, citing steady beauty demand and the UK expansion. [6]
Steelman serves on the board of directors of Adler Planetarium and has chaired its board (2023–2025). [7] According to Ulta Beauty’s 2025 Form 10-K, she also serves on the board of The Bay Club Company and on the executive committee of World Business Chicago. [3]
A January 2025 profile in Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Steelman holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Warren National University, an unaccredited distance-learning institution that is no longer operating. [8]
In May 2025, Steelman was honored at the 47th annual Outstanding Mother Awards in New York City. [9]