Robert Chavez will bring a multi-decade career in luxury, retail and ecommerce to the Macy's board.
The Macy's board of directors will gain a new member with the appointment of retail industry veteran Robert Chavez. On the heels of a year that saw activist investors push two new members onto the retailer's board, Chavez is scheduled to assume his new duties on April 1.
In addition, Macy's noted that Sara Levinson, who has served on the board since 2024, will not stand for reelection at Macy's annual meeting in 2025.
Macy's ranks No. 17 in Digital Commerce 360's Top 1000 Database of the largest North American online retailers by annual ecommerce sales. Macy's is also the second-largest Apparel & Accessories retailer in the database. Digital Commerce 360 projects Macy's total web sales in 2025 will reach $6.96 billion.
Tony Spring, who became chief executive officer at Macy's nearly a year ago, welcomed Chavez to the board of directors, praising the insights that he will be able to offer.
"Bob will bring significant additional retail industry and leadership experience to our Board as we further our efforts to capture market share across our three nameplates," Spring said in a public release from Macy's. "We look forward to benefitting from Bob's insights as we continue to execute our Bold New Chapter initiatives and work toward delivering sustainable, profitable growth and enhanced shareholder value."
Meanwhile, Levinson's departure will come in accordance with the Macy's board's mandatory retirement age. Her time on the board included time on its compensation and management development committee, as well as its nominating and corporate governance committee.
"On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Sara for her contributions to Macy's, Inc. throughout her tenure as a director," said Paul Varga, lead independent director at Macy's, in a public statement. "We are also pleased to welcome Bob to the Board as part of our commitment to ongoing director refreshment. His decades of luxury retail and leadership experience will complement the skills and expertise of our other valued directors."
Chavez will bring both ecommerce and luxury retail experience to the Macy's board. With a career spanning more than 45 years, he most recently served as president and CEO at Hermès Americas overseeing U.S., Canada and Latin America operations.
Prior to Hermès, Chavez spent eight years as CEO at the German luxury fashion house Etienne Aigner Group. That followed other roles at both Bloomingdale's and Macy's.
"I am honored to join the Macy's, Inc. Board and serve as a director at the Company where I started my career and in the industry which I am most passionate about," Chavez said. "I look forward to collaborating with my fellow directors to capture the growth opportunities across the Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury businesses for the benefit of all Macy's, Inc.'s stakeholders."