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 60,000 store, distribution center and corporate associates, who are passionate about delivering wow experiences to guests, in more than 1,500 stores, four distribution centers, two market fulfilment centers, one fast-fulfillment center as well as corporate headquarters. Under her leadership, Ulta Beauty also acquired Space NK, and has expanded internationally to Mexico and the Middle East 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, and she remains passionate about inclusivity.  

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 Group Vice President and Vice President of Project Implementation & Operations at Family Dollar; Vice President and General Manager at Expo Design Centers and Director of Innovation & Strategic growth at Home Depot. She began her career at Target, where she served in a variety of retail operations and merchandising roles for 12 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in business management from Kennedy Western University

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. After a longstanding partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), she joined the BCRF board of directors in 2025. She also currently serves on the board of directors for The Bay Club, a KKR portfolio company, World Business Chicago, The Economic Club of Chicago, and the Adler Planetarium. Kecia is also recognized as a life trustee for Metropolitan Family Services.