In a landmark move, Levi Strauss & Co. announces the retirement of CEO Chip Bergh on April 26, 2024, with Michelle Gass, the current president, assuming the CEO role from January 29 onwards.
The board elects Bergh as executive vice chair until retirement, followed by a transition to senior advisor until the close of the company’s 2024 fiscal year. Bob Eckert, Levi Strauss board chairman, commends Bergh for transformative leadership, stating, «Chip has transformed this company and will leave it far better than when he arrived.»
Bergh’s legacy includes elevating Levi’s into a global, direct-to-consumer powerhouse and revitalizing the brand’s presence in women’s apparel and strategic initiatives like Levi’s Stadium naming rights. Bergh, pivotal in Levi Strauss’ 2019 IPO and the Beyond Yoga acquisition in 2021, expresses confidence in Gass as a leader for sustainable, profitable growth.
Michelle Gass, appointed president in January, assumes the CEO role with responsibility for Levi’s brand, product, merchandising, marketing, digital, and global commercial operations. Bergh affirms, «It is time for new leadership,» as Levi’s shifts to an omni-channel, direct-to-consumer focus.
This transition occurs amid retail challenges, with Levi Strauss & Co. adjusting its full-year sales outlook in October. As Gass takes charge, Levi’s anticipates a future marked by innovation, sustainable growth, and continued brand strength.
