Nordstrom vs Ross Stores: Founders, CEOs and History
Nordstrom was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom, Carl Wallin and is led by Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs). Ross Stores was founded in 1982 by Morris Ross, Bill Isackson, Stuart Moldaw and is led by James G. Conroy.
Company facts
Nordstrom
- Founded
- 1901
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington
- Current CEO
- Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs)
- Employees
- 55,000
Ross Stores
- Founded
- 1982
- Headquarters
- Dublin, California
- Current CEO
- James G. Conroy
- Employees
- 111,000
Founders
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.
Ross Stores
Morris Ross
Morris Ross opened the original Ross department store in San Bruno, California, in 1950. He ran the single store for several years before selling it in 1958.
Bill Isackson
Bill Isackson bought the Ross store from Morris Ross in 1958 and grew it into a small chain of six Bay Area junior department stores. That six-store chain is what an investor group bought in 1982 and converted to the off-price format.
Stuart Moldaw
Stuart Moldaw was a Bay Area retail entrepreneur and venture investor who led the 1982 purchase of the six-store Ross chain with Don Rowlett and other investors.
Don Rowlett
Don Rowlett was the retail operator in the 1982 investor group that bought the Ross chain.
CEOs and their tenures
Nordstrom
- Jamie Nordstrom
Chief Merchandising Officer
Leads merchandising and sits on the post-deal board alongside Erik and Pete Nordstrom.
Source - John Whitacre1997–2000
Chief Executive Officer
First CEO from outside the Nordstrom family, appointed in 1997.
Source - Blake W. Nordstrom2000–2019
President, later Co-President
Led the company as president from 2000 and co-president from 2015 until his death in January 2019.
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
Former president and chief brand officer focused on merchandising and brand; became co-CEO in May 2025.
Source
Ross Stores
- Barbara Rentler2014–2025
Former Chief Executive Officer
Sales grew from about $11 billion when she took over to $21.1 billion in fiscal 2024, her final full year as CEO.
Source - James G. Conroy2025–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under Conroy, comparable store sales rose 17% in Q1 and 10% in Q2 of fiscal 2026, driven mainly by traffic.
Source
Timeline: Nordstrom and Ross Stores 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.
1950Ross Stores
Original Ross store opens
Morris Ross opened the original Ross department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating the name later used by the chain.
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.
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.
1982Ross Stores
Off-price format begins
Six junior department stores in the San Francisco Bay Area were acquired and converted to the Ross Dress for Less off-price format.
1985Ross Stores
Ross Stores IPO
Ross Stores went public on Nasdaq under the ticker ROST.
2004Ross Stores
dd's DISCOUNTS launches
Ross created dd's DISCOUNTS to serve a more moderate-income value customer with deeper discounts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2025Ross Stores
James Conroy becomes CEO
James G. Conroy became CEO at the start of fiscal 2025, succeeding Barbara Rentler.
2025Ross Stores
Fiscal 2025 sales reach $22.8B
Ross reported record full-year sales of $22.8 billion for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026.
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.
2026Ross Stores
Strong first half of fiscal 2026
First-half sales rose 17% to $12.3 billion with comparable store sales up 13%; Q2 results included about $253 million in IEEPA tariff refunds.
Acquisitions
Questions about Nordstrom vs Ross Stores
Who is the CEO of Nordstrom, Inc. and Ross Stores, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. is led by Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs) and Ross Stores, Inc. is led by James G. Conroy. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Nordstrom, Inc. founded vs Ross Stores, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. was founded in 1901 — 81 years before Ross Stores, Inc., which was founded in 1982. Nordstrom, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Ross Stores, Inc..
How many employees does Nordstrom, Inc. have compared to Ross Stores, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. employs approximately 55,000 people, while Ross Stores, Inc. employs approximately 111,000. Ross Stores, Inc. has the larger workforce at 111,000 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 Nordstrom, Inc. and Ross Stores, Inc. headquartered?
Both Nordstrom, Inc. and Ross Stores, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Nordstrom, Inc. and Ross Stores, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. was founded by John W. Nordstrom, Carl Wallin. Ross Stores, Inc. was founded by Morris Ross, Bill Isackson, Stuart Moldaw, Don Rowlett.
Which company has a longer operating history — Nordstrom, Inc. or Ross Stores, Inc.?
Nordstrom, Inc. has been operating for approximately 125 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Ross Stores, Inc. has been in operation for around 44 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 Nordstrom vs Ross Stores overview