Kecia Steelman

Kecia Steelman was named President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ulta Beauty, the nation’s largest beauty retailer, in January 2025. She joined Ulta Beauty in August 2014 as Senior Vice President of Operations and was elevated into executive leadership roles at the company beginning 2015. Her scope continued to expand throughout her tenure as Kecia’s business acumen, people-first approach and operational mindset demonstrated a proven track record of success for Ulta Beauty.



With responsibility for the entire organization, Kecia leads a team of more than 55,000 store, distribution center and corporate associates, who are passionate about delivering wow experiences to guests, in more than 1,450 stores, four distribution centers, two fast-fulfillment centers, one market fulfilment center as well as corporate headquarters. Under her leadership, Ulta Beauty fosters a partnership with Target and is expanding internationally in 2025. Her passion for people and commitment to keeping guests and associates at the center is a hallmark of Ulta Beauty’s culture. Kecia empowers teams across the organization to bring the power of beauty to life, inspiring joy and belonging in guests’ lives, enabling associates to build fulfilling careers, and making a positive impact on the world. Her influence brings Ulta Beauty’s vision to life of being the most loved beauty destination.



Kecia has more than 30 years of retail experience at high-growth companies. Prior to joining Ulta Beauty, Kecia held leadership positions across the retail sector, including Family Dollar, Expo Design Centers and Home Depot. She began her career at Target, where she served in a variety of retail operations and merchandising roles for 12 years.



In addition to her work at Ulta Beauty, Kecia is committed to giving back, which is demonstrated through her involvement with several charitable organizations and fundraising efforts. She also currently serves on the board of directors for The Bay Club, a KKR portfolio company, World Business Chicago, and serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Adler Planetarium. Kecia is also recognized as a life trustee for Metropolitan Family Services. She received her bachelor’s degree in business management from Kennedy Western University.