Kohl's vs Nordstrom: Founders, CEOs and History
Kohl's was founded in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl and is led by Michael Bender. Nordstrom was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom, Carl Wallin and is led by Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs).
Company facts
Founders
Kohl's
Maxwell Kohl
Kohl's possesses a pragmatic, Midwestern founding story, rooted in the economic expansion of post-war suburbia and the ambitious vision of a Polish immigrant family heavily focused on the grocery business before ever selling a single piece of clothing.
Nordstrom
John W. Nordstrom
John W. Nordstrom emigrated from Sweden to the United States as a teenager and worked in mines and logging camps before joining the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897.
Carl Wallin
Carl Wallin was a shoemaker who partnered with John W. Nordstrom to open Wallin & Nordstrom in Seattle in 1901, bringing the footwear expertise while Nordstrom brought capital from the Klondike.
CEOs and their tenures
Kohl's
- William Kellogg1986–1999
CEO
Under his leadership, Kohl's expanded from 40 stores in the Midwest into a national retail powerhouse, fundamentally establishing its highly successful off-mall real estate strategy.
Source - Michelle Gass2018–2022
CEO
Sephora became Kohl's strongest category driver, though her shift away from private brands was later reversed. She left in late 2022 to join Levi Strauss & Co., where she later became CEO.
Source - Tom Kingsbury2023–2025
CEO
Inventory and expenses improved, but net sales kept falling, and Kohl's cut its dividend before he handed over in January 2025.
Source - Michael Bender2025–present
CEO
On his watch, comparable-sales declines narrowed to 0.9% in Q2 2026, gross margin rose 305 basis points to 43.0%, and FY2026 guidance went up. He previously led Eyemart Express and held senior roles at Walmart and PepsiCo.
Source - Ashley Buchanan2025–2025
CEO
He was fired for cause on May 1, 2025, after an investigation found he steered business to a vendor tied to a personal relationship without disclosure. His tenure lasted under four months.
Source
Nordstrom
- John Whitacre1997–2000
Chief Executive Officer
Serving briefly as CEO in the late 1990s (the first non-family member to do so), he helped modernize the legacy department store's incredibly outdated financial structures.
Source - Blake W. Nordstrom2000–2019
President, later Co-President
Serving as Co-President until his tragic death in 2019, he was widely beloved for fiercely maintaining the company's legendary, deeply entrenched culture of absolute customer service perfection.
Source - Jamie Nordstrom2014–present
Chief Merchandising Officer
Serving as Chief Merchandising Officer (and formerly President of Stores), he manages the incredibly complex omnichannel logistics required to battle Amazon directly.
Source - Erik B. Nordstrom2020–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Became CEO in 2020 after serving as co-president, and has led the push to expand Nordstrom Rack and connect stores with digital fulfillment. Became co-CEO with his brother Pete when the company went private in May 2025.
Source - Pete E. Nordstrom2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
As President and Chief Brand Officer, he ensures the company maintains its highly prestigious reputation while aggressively navigating the catastrophic collapse of the American shopping mall.
Source
Timeline: Kohl's and Nordstrom side by side
1901Nordstrom
First Shoe Store Opens in Seattle
John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin open Wallin & Nordstrom, a shoe store in downtown Seattle.
1927Kohl's
Maxwell Kohl Opens First Grocery Store
Maxwell Kohl, a Polish immigrant working in Milwaukee factories, opened a corner grocery store at Lincoln Avenue and Kinnickinnic Avenue using his savings. This was the beginning of a retail empire that would eventually include 48 supermarkets.
1946Kohl's
First Supermarket with Bakery and Deli
Kohl opened the first supermarket in Milwaukee's Sherman Park neighborhood to feature then-novel services like an in-store bakery and deli, innovations that would later influence his department store concept.
1962Kohl's
First Kohl's Department Store Opens in Brookfield, Wisconsin
Based on his dissatisfying experience buying a shirt, Maxwell Kohl opened the first Kohl's department store in conjunction with a supermarket in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
1963Nordstrom
Expansion into Apparel
Nordstrom bought Seattle women's clothing retailer Best's Apparel, moving beyond shoes into apparel and laying the foundation for the full-line department store.
1972Kohl's
British American Tobacco Acquires Controlling Interest
The Kohl family sold a controlling interest in their retail enterprise to a subsidiary of British American Tobacco Company. By this point, the enterprise included 56 supermarkets, 6 department stores, 3 drug stores, and 3 liquor stores.
1973Nordstrom
Launch of Nordstrom Rack
The first Nordstrom Rack opens in Seattle as a clearance outlet for full-line merchandise, the start of the off-price business.
1979Kohl's
BATUS Inc. Acquires Full Ownership
British American Tobacco's subsidiary BATUS Inc. acquired full ownership of Kohl's Department Stores. Herb Kohl, Maxwell's son, resigned as president. He would later become an U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.
1986Kohl's
Management Buyout from British American Tobacco
A group of management executives and investors led by William Kellogg purchased the 40-store Kohl's retail chain from British American Tobacco for approximately $300 million, setting the stage for national expansion.
1988Kohl's
Acquisition of Federated's Main Street Stores
Kohl's acquired Federated Department Stores' Main Street chain, entering the Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis-St. Paul markets and expanding beyond its Midwest base for the first time.
1992Kohl's
Initial Public Offering on NYSE
Kohl's went public on the New York Stock Exchange, pricing shares and raising capital for expansion. At the time, the company operated 76 stores in the Midwest. The IPO valued the company at approximately $600 million.
1998Kohl's
Addition to S&P 500 Index
Kohl's was added to the S&P 500 index, recognizing its growth and market capitalization. The company had become a significant player in U.S. retail.
2001Kohl's
Launch of Kohls.com E-Commerce Platform
Kohl's launched its e-commerce website, Kohls.com, giving the company an online presence that has grown to represent 29% of net sales. The platform initially offered merchandise available in stores plus online-exclusive items.
2003Kohl's
Coast-to-Coast Expansion with California Stores
Kohl's opened 28 stores in California, achieving a coast-to-coast presence for the first time in the company's history. This marked the completion of a national expansion strategy that began with the 1988 Main Street acquisition.
2011Nordstrom
Acquisition of HauteLook
Nordstrom acquired flash-sale site HauteLook for about $180 million in stock plus a potential earn-out, expanding its online off-price business.
2012Kohl's
Surpasses JCPenney as Largest Department Store Chain
In May 2012, Kohl's surpassed JCPenney to become the largest department store chain in the United States by store count. The company operated approximately 1,100 stores at the time.
2014Nordstrom
Trunk Club Acquisition
Nordstrom acquired Trunk Club in 2014 as a digital personal-styling bet, later wound down the standalone brand in fiscal 2022, and continued personal styling through Nordstrom channels.
2014Nordstrom
First Canadian Store
Nordstrom opened its first Canadian store in Calgary in September 2014.
2019Kohl's
Amazon Returns Partnership Launches Nationwide
Kohl's expanded its Amazon returns partnership to all 1,100+ stores nationwide, allowing customers to return Amazon packages unpackaged and free of charge.
2020Kohl's
Sephora Partnership Announced
Kohl's announced a long-term strategic partnership with Sephora to open shop-in-shop beauty destinations in Kohl's stores. The first 200 locations opened in Fall 2021, with plans to expand to at least 850 stores by 2023.
2022Kohl's
Activist Investor Pressure and CEO Transition
Activist investors including Macellum Capital Management pressured Kohl's board, nominating 10 directors and pushing for real estate monetization. The company adopted a poison pill defense.
2023Kohl's
Tom Kingsbury Becomes Permanent CEO; Sephora Reaches 850 Stores
In February 2023, Tom Kingsbury was named permanent CEO. The Sephora rollout continued, reaching 850 stores by year-end. The company also laid off approximately 60 marketing and merchandising employees at corporate headquarters to 'drive greater efficiency.'
2023Nordstrom
Exit from Canadian Market
Nordstrom wound down its Canadian business, closing six full-line Nordstrom stores and seven Rack stores, to refocus on the U.S. market.
2024Kohl's
Sephora Sales Exceed $1.4 Billion; Babies 'R' Us Partnership Announced
Sephora at Kohl's sales exceeded $1.4 billion in 2023, up over 90% year-over-year. The company announced a partnership with WHP Global's Babies 'R' Us to open shop-in-shop baby gear sections in approximately 200 stores.
2024Nordstrom
Last Public Fiscal Year: $15.0 Billion Revenue
In FY2024, its last year as a public company, Nordstrom reported total revenues of $15.016 billion, net sales of $14.557 billion, and net earnings of $294 million.
2025Kohl's
Ashley Buchanan Fired for Cause; Michael Bender Takes Over
In May 2025, then-CEO Ashley Buchanan was fired for cause after an investigation found he directed the company to engage in vendor transactions involving undisclosed conflicts of interest with a former romantic partner.
2025Kohl's
FY2025 Financial Results and Debt Refinancing
Kohl's reported FY2025 net sales of $14.78 billion (down 4.0%), total revenue of $15.527 billion, net income of $272 million (including a $129 million lawsuit gain), and adjusted net income of $186 million.
2025Kohl's
FY2025 Total Revenue Reaches $15.527 Billion
Kohl's reported $15.527 billion in FY2025 total revenue, $14.775 billion in net sales, $624 million in operating income, $272 million in net income, 1,153 stores, and an average of about 84,000 associates.
2025Nordstrom
Nordstrom Goes Private
The Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool complete the acquisition of Nordstrom on May 20, 2025; Nordstrom stock ceases NYSE trading before the market opens on May 21, 2025.
2025Nordstrom
Erik and Pete Nordstrom Become Co-CEOs
With the go-private deal closing, brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom became co-CEOs and a seven-member board replaced the 12-member public board.
2026Kohl's
Q2 2026 Results and Raised Outlook
Comparable sales fell 0.9%, gross margin reached 43.0%, and FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance was raised to $1.80-$2.40.
2026Nordstrom
125th Anniversary and Rack Expansion
Nordstrom marked 125 years in business after opening 22 Rack stores in 2025, reaching 298, and announced 18 more Rack openings for 2026.
Acquisitions
Nordstrom
- BevyUp2018Undisclosed
- MessageYes2018Undisclosed
- Trunk Club2014$350M
- HauteLook2011$180M
Questions about Kohl's vs Nordstrom
Who is the CEO of Kohl's Corporation and Nordstrom, Inc.?
Kohl's Corporation is led by Michael Bender and Nordstrom, Inc. is led by Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs). Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Kohl's Corporation founded vs Nordstrom, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. was founded in 1901 — 61 years before Kohl's Corporation, which was founded in 1962. Nordstrom, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Kohl's Corporation.
How many employees does Kohl's Corporation have compared to Nordstrom, Inc.?
Kohl's Corporation employs approximately 84,000 people, while Nordstrom, Inc. employs approximately 55,000. Kohl's Corporation has the larger workforce at 84,000 employees, compared to Nordstrom, Inc.'s 55,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Kohl's Corporation and Nordstrom, Inc. headquartered?
Both Kohl's Corporation and Nordstrom, Inc. are headquartered in United States. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded Kohl's Corporation and Nordstrom, Inc.?
Kohl's Corporation was founded by Maxwell Kohl. Nordstrom, Inc. was founded by John W. Nordstrom, Carl Wallin.
Which company has a longer operating history — Kohl's Corporation or Nordstrom, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. has been operating for approximately 125 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Kohl's Corporation has been in operation for around 64 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Kohl's vs Nordstrom overview