Stephen C. Neal, current board chair, will be stepping down from the position on March 26, 2021, after reaching the mandatory board retirement age of 72. The board has unanimously appointed Robert “Bob” A. Eckert to succeed Neal as board chair, effective March 26, 2021.

“It has been an honor to lead the Levi Strauss & Co. board over the last decade. As I step down from this role, I have great confidence that Bob will continue to bring a high standard, invaluable perspective and strong leadership that will help management drive performance over the coming years,” said Neal.

“Steve has been instrumental to our successful turnaround over the last decade, including playing a key role in taking the company public. He has guided us through countless strategic decisions and supported our commitment to our values every step of the way,” said Chip Bergh, president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co. “As Steve retires as board chair, we are lucky to have Bob step into this role. Bob has been a successful CEO and brings decades of experience with other large, global companies and more than 10 years of experience on our board. He understands our business, our strategies and our culture, and is the ideal person to lead the board into the future.”