Ashley Buchanan Net Worth 2025, Salary and Business Ventures
Ashley Buchanan is an American business executive with a notable career in the retail industry. Ashley Buchanan was appointed CEO of Kohl’s in January 2025, but his time in the role was brief.
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In May 2025, he was dismissed after an internal investigation uncovered that he had directed the company to engage in vendor transactions that benefited Chandra Holt, a former romantic partner and the founder of Incredibrew. Buchanan failed to disclose their relationship, which led to his termination
Ashley Buchanan Net Worth
As of May 2025, Ashley Buchanan's estimated net worth is approximately $14 million, based on his executive roles and investments across various companies.
| Name | Ashley Buchanan |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | $14 million |
| Kohl’s Compensation (2025) | |
| Base Salary | $1.475 million |
| Signing Bonus | $3.75 million (clawed back after dismissal) |
| Stock Awards | $17 million (all canceled upon dismissal) |
| Other Compensation | $90,691 |
| Total (Pre-dismissal) | $22 million (reduced to $1.565M after clawbacks and cancellations) |
| Investments | |
| Kohl’s Corporation (KSS) | 1,766,151 unvested RSUs ($14M value canceled after firing) |
| TreeHouse Foods (THS) | 2,196 shares acquired while on board (2020–2022) |
| Macy’s, Inc. (M) | 24,462 deferred stock units held as of end-2024; 8,209 RSUs forfeited |
| The Michaels Companies | Undisclosed private equity from former CEO role; Michaels went private in 2021 |
| Advisory Role | Advisor at Verity Venture Partners LLC |
Ashley Buchanan Salary and Compensation at Kohl’s
During his brief tenure as CEO of Kohl’s from January to May 2025, Ashley Buchanan was compensated with a substantial package. His base salary was $1.475 million, and he received a signing bonus of $3.75 million. Additionally, he was awarded $17 million in stock awards and $90,691 in other compensation.
This brought his total compensation to approximately $22 million, positioning him as one of the highest-paid executives in Wisconsin during that time.As Macy’s director, Buchanan earned $82,500 in cash fees and $159,993 in stock grants in 2024.
Termination and Financial Repercussions
Buchanan was dismissed from his CEO position after just 106 days due to undisclosed conflicts of interest involving a romantic relationship with Chandra Holt, founder of Incredibrew, a vendor with which Kohl’s engaged in business . As a result, he forfeited all equity awards and was required to repay a portion of his $2.5 million signing bonus .
Equity Investments and Holdings
As of March 31, 2025, Ashley Buchanan held 1,766,151 unvested restricted stock units in Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE: KSS), representing approximately 1.59% of the company's outstanding shares. This stake was valued at around $14 million as of March 30, 2025. However, after his dismissal in May 2025, Kohl’s canceled all of Buchanan’s equity awards and clawed back his $2.5 million signing bonus, effectively eliminating his future financial stake in the company.
In addition to Kohl’s, Buchanan also held investments in several other companies. During his time on the board of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) from 2020 to 2022, he acquired 2,196 shares. There are no public records of additional trades following his departure. At Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M), Buchanan served on the board from 2021 until November 25, 2024.
He held 24,462 deferred stock units at the end of 2024 and was granted 8,209 restricted stock units (RSUs) in May 2024. However, he forfeited these RSUs upon leaving the board in November. While any common stock purchases he may have made at Macy’s are not publicly disclosed, his reported holdings reflect significant deferred compensation.
Additionally, as the former CEO of The Michaels Companies, Inc. (2020–January 2025), Buchanan likely held equity in the Apollo-owned firm, which went private in 2021. However, due to its private status, no public data is available regarding his remaining equity in Michaels.
Early Life and Education
Ashley Buchanan was born in 1974 in Mount Pleasant, Texas, as the eldest of three children to Patricia (Patti) and James Buchanan, a businessman. He pursued higher education at Baylor University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and real estate in 1996.
During his undergraduate years, Buchanan was also an active member of the university's NCAA Division I tennis team. He continued his studies at Baylor's Hankamer School of Business, obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree in 1998.
Professional Career
Ashley Buchanan’s professional career spans over two decades in the retail and consumer goods industry, marked by leadership roles at some of the most prominent U.S. retailers.
He began his career at Dell and later joined Accenture, where he developed a strong foundation in business consulting and technology-driven operations. His major breakthrough came at Walmart, where he spent more than 13 years in various executive roles.
At Walmart, Buchanan climbed the ranks to become the Chief Merchandising Officer for Walmart U.S. eCommerce and Chief Merchant of Sam’s Club. His work in driving digital transformation and modernizing merchandising strategies was widely recognized during his tenure.
In 2020, Buchanan took on the role of CEO and President of The Michaels Companies, a leading arts and crafts retailer. He was instrumental in leading the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, improving its omnichannel capabilities and ultimately overseeing its acquisition by Apollo Global Management in a $5 billion deal. Following Michaels, Buchanan was appointed CEO of Kohl’s Corporation in January 2025, although his time there ended abruptly after an internal investigation led to his termination in May of the same year.
Alongside his executive roles, Buchanan has also served on the boards of major companies like TreeHouse Foods and Macy’s, adding governance experience to his résumé. His career has been defined by strategic leadership in retail transformation, eCommerce innovation, and operational efficiency.
