Kohl's Fires New CEO Just 100 Days into His Tenure for 'Unethical Behavior' Surrounding Vendors

Image Courtesy of Kohl’s

Kohl’s Fires New CEO Just 100 Days Into His Tenure for Unethical Behavior Surrounding Vendors

May 1, 2025

Bernadette Giacomazzo

Kohl’s has made headlines for firing its newly named CEO just 100 days into his tenure, after the now-ex-executive’s unethical behavior surrounding vendors was made public.

Fortune is reporting that Ashley Buchanan was fired, effective immediately, for breaking corporate regulations by ordering the company to engage in vendor transactions with “undisclosed conflicts of interest” following an inquiry by outside counsel.

Buchanan has only been with Kohl’s since January, succeeding Tom Kingsbury. The retailer further insisted that Buchanan’s firing had nothing to do with the company’s performance, financial reporting, or operational results, and that Buchanan’s conduct did not implicate other Kohl’s workers. He will no longer serve on the board, and the business has withdrawn his nomination for director at its 2025 annual shareholder meeting. The company’s audit committee oversaw the investigation.

Details about the vendor and Buchanan’s alleged relationship with said vendor were not available as of press time.

Kohl’s then stated in a press release that the Board of Directors has named Michael Bender interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. Bender has been a director of the board since July 2019 and was appointed chair in May 2024.

“I am honored to assume the role of Interim CEO at this important time for the Company,” Bender, who comes to the company from Eyemart Express, said. “Working with our talented leadership team, Board, and thousands of associates, I am committed to continuing the execution of our strategic framework to grow shareholder value. Kohl’s has a strong foundation of more than 1,100 conveniently located stores nationwide, serving over 60 million customers. We will continue to build on this foundation as we enhance the value we deliver to our customers and set the stage for meaningful operational and financial progress.”

Kohl’s Closing Underperforming Stores

Meanwhile, the discount retailer continues to close underperforming stores, with 27 locations shuttered by the end of April. These locations include:

Alabama

  • Spanish Fort – 21000 Town Center Ave.

Arkansas

  • Little Rock West – 13909 Chenal Pkwy.

California

  • Balboa (San Diego) – 5505 Balboa Ave.
  • Encinitas – 134 N. El Camino Real
  • Fremont – 43782 Christy St.
  • Mountain View – 350 Showers Drive
  • Napa – 1116 First St.
  • Pleasanton – 4525 Rosewood Drive
  • Point West (Sacramento) – 1896 Arden Way
  • San Rafael – 5010 Northgate Drive
  • San Luis Obispo – 205 Madonna Road
  • Westchester – 8739 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

Colorado

  • Arapahoe Crossing (Aurora) – 6584 S. Parker Road

Georgia

  • Duluth – 2050 W. Liddell Road

Idaho

  • Boise – 400 N. Milwaukee St.

Illinois

  • Plainfield – 11860 S. Route 59
  • Spring Hill (West Dundee) – 3000 Spring Hill Ring Road

Massachusetts

  • Stoughton – 501 Technology Center Drive

New Jersey

  • East Windsor – 72 Princeton Hightstown Road

Ohio

  • Blue Ash – 4150 Hunt Road
  • Forest Park (Cincinnati) – 100 Cincinnati Mills Drive

Oregon

  • Portland Gateway – 10010 NE Halsey St.

Pennsylvania

  • Pottstown – 351 W. Schuylkill Road

Texas

  • North Dallas – 18224 Preston Road

Utah

  • Riverton – 13319 S. 3600 W. Ste 13LOT

Virginia

  • Herndon – 2100 Centreville Road
  • Williamsburg – 100 Gristmill Plz

With these closures, only about 1,100 Kohl’s locations remain.

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