The National Retail Federation (NRF) today announced that Lowe’s Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison will receive the 2023 Visionary Award. Ellison will be recognized during the eighth annual NRF Foundation Honors on Jan. 15 in New York City.
“With more than three decades of executive leadership at national retail brands, Marvin Ellison has built an exemplary career, driven through his passion to lead by example in the pursuit of excellence,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “A magnanimous figure among retailers, his unwavering dedication to his team, their customers, and the communities they serve is indicative of his expertise and his character. NRF is honored to recognize him with the Visionary Award.”
Presented each year to an outstanding retail industry leader, the Visionary Award honors Ellison for his stewardship to drive positive change within the retail industry. Throughout his career, he has successfully navigated a number of challenges, including supporting Lowe’s communities and frontline associates through the global health crisis while helping customers keep their homes and businesses safe and operational as an essential retailer. As he leads the company into its second centennial, Ellison remains focused on transforming Lowe’s into a world class omnichannel retailer.
Past recipients of the Visionary Award include Target Corp. Board Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell; Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass; Nike Chairman, President, and CEO Mark Parker; Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon; and Levi Strauss & Co. President and CEO Chip Bergh.
“At its core, Lowe’s fundamental mission is to provide the products and service to help people improve the places they value the most—their homes,” Ellison said. “The people we serve are at the heart of everything we do. I am grateful for NRF’s recognition of our team’s outstanding commitment to our customers and communities.”
Ellison will also participate in a fireside chat with Shay on Jan. 16 at NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show.
Ellison started his career in loss prevention with roles at Target and The Home Depot before joining Lowe’s in 2018. As CEO of the Fortune 50 company, he leads a team of over 300,000 associates and more than 2,200 stores across the United States and Canada. Prior to Lowe’s, Ellison served as chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney Co., and spent a dozen years in senior-level operations roles with The Home Depot, serving as executive vice president of US stores from 2008 to 2014. Prior to The Home Depot, he spent 15 years at Target Corp.
Since 2015, the NRF Foundation Honors has raised funds to support the NRF Foundation’s work highlighting retail as an industry of opportunity and providing resources to prepare people for life-changing careers. The event celebrates leaders in retail and features the presentation of the NRF Foundation’s undergraduate scholarships.
More information is available at nrffoundation.org/honors.