Stephen C Neal, Chairman, Levi Strauss & Co is stepping down from his position and will be succeeded by Bob A. Eckert.
Neal, who has been chair of the Levi Strauss board for a decade, will be leaving the role on March 26, having reached the mandatory board retirement age of 72. Eckert’s appointment as his replacement is effective on the same day.
According to the company, during his time as board chair, Neal played a key role in the group’s successful turnaround, as well as in its journey to going public.
As well as his time on the Levi Strauss board, Eckert’s previous experience includes serving as chairman of the board at toy manufacturer Mattel, Inc. from 2000 to 2012. He was also the company’s CEO from May 2000 to December 2011.
Prior to Mattel, Eckert worked at Kraft Food, Inc. for 23 years, serving in a range of roles, including president and CEO from 1997 to 2000.
