Core Summary

  • Ulta Beauty announced on Tuesday that current board member Kelly Garcia will serve as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective August 31.
  • As CTO, Garcia will continue to advance the company's technology capabilities and implement the technology-driven Ulta Beauty Unleashed strategy, which aims to increase market share. Garcia will resign from Ulta's board and end his 14-year tenure at Domino's (most recently serving as EVP and CTO).
  • "Kelly has made significant contributions as a board member, providing valuable business insights and technical expertise, including deep insights into emerging technologies such as AI," President and CEO Kecia Steelman said in a statement.

In-Depth Analysis

Before Garcia joined, Ulta had already begun modernizing its core technology systems and applying AI more broadly across enterprise and customer-facing workflows. In recent years, Ulta upgraded its ERP system, migrated to a customized digital store platform, eliminated outdated point-of-sale systems, and made progress in data management and governance. These technology preparations laid the groundwork for broader adoption of AI agents, former Chief Technology and Transformation Officer Mike Maresca, who left this month, told CIO Dive in 2025.

Maresca said last year that the company is upskilling employees through a tiered system to ensure AI systems undergo rigorous review, ensure transparency, encourage ethical use, and promote compliance.

Although Ulta did not detail the specific technology projects Garcia will oversee in this phase of modernization, Steelman mentioned his experience developing and implementing technology initiatives at Domino's that supported and improved global operations.

"With more than 25 years of leadership experience and extensive expertise in global e-commerce, customer loyalty, digital innovation, and cybersecurity, Kelly will be a valuable addition to our team," Steelman said.

Garcia expanded his CTO responsibilities at Domino's in 2020, when the company was working to transform its brand through technology innovation. That same year, Garcia took on CIO responsibilities, and the company renamed its IT department "Domino's Technology" in response to efforts to strengthen in-house technology support for business operations.

Earlier this year, Domino's launched a custom AI tracking enginethat uses machine learning to analyze multiple real-time inputs from team members to more accurately estimate delivery and pickup times, and updated its e-commerce platform and mobile website. The initiative is part of Domino's "Hungry for More" strategy, aimed at improving food quality and operational efficiency.