Key takeaways:
- Ulta Beauty appointed Pacsun CEO Brieane Olson to its board of directors, effective Aug. 31, 2026.
- Olson brings more than 20 years of specialty retail experience, spanning brand building, omnichannel commerce and merchandising.
- The appointment comes weeks after Pacsun and Ulta launched a joint limited-edition fashion and beauty collection.
Ulta Beauty named Pacsun CEO Brieane Olson to its board of directors, the company announced Aug. 17. The appointment takes effect Aug. 31.
Olson fills the seat vacated by Kelly G. Garcia, who transitioned to the role of Ulta’s Chief Technology Officer.
Olson has spent the bulk of her career at Pacsun, which she joined in 2007. She rose through the ranks from SVP of Merchandising and Design to Chief Merchandising Officer, then Chief Brand Officer in 2020. She became Pacsun’s President in June 2021 and took the CEO role in May 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brie to our Board of Directors,” said Kecia Steelman, Ulta’s President and CEO, in a statement. “She has extensive experience leading consumer retail organizations through periods of growth and transformation, and we are confident her insights into strategy execution, talent development and long-term value creation will be invaluable to the board as we continue to advance our Ulta Beauty Unleashed strategy.”
Before Pacsun, Olson held leadership positions at Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollywould and Valentino. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree in fashion from Istituto Marangoni in Italy, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Pacsun x Ulta Collab
The board appointment follows a collaboration between Pacsun and Ulta, which launched earlier this summer. The collab included a limited-edition fashion and beauty collection, and rolled out across more than 100 Pacsun doors and select Ulta Beauty stores, as well as online and on TikTok Shop.
The collection included two beauty kits, The Lip Statement Kit and The Glow Authority, featuring brands such as Drunk Elephant, Fenty Beauty and NYX Professional Makeup, alongside an exclusive co-branded hoodie.
“Our partnership with Ulta Beauty brings together two brands that celebrate self-expression, confidence and individuality,” said Pacsun Chief Merchandising Officer Richard Cox in a July press release.
Ulta’s Q1 Results
Olson joins at a relatively strong moment for the beauty retailer. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, which ended May 2, Ulta Beauty reported net sales of $3.2 billion, up more than 11% year-over-year, with comparable sales growing 5.3%. The company’s loyalty program grew to nearly 47 million members, and its ecommerce channel posted growth in the mid-teens.
Steelman acknowledged the broader economic pressures while pointing to category resilience. “The beauty and wellness categories remain healthy, and engagement is strong,” she said during the company’s Q1 earnings call. “At the same time, consumers continue to face macroeconomic uncertainty and inflationary measures and pressures from rising fuel prices, making value increasingly important as a consideration.”
Ulta maintained its net sales growth guidance of 6% to 7% for fiscal 2026, while raising its operating income growth expectations and diluted earnings per share forecast.
