The world’s largest retail chains have long been dominated by men, but a transformative wave of female leadership is reshaping the industry. Across continents, women are stepping into the highest executive roles in supermarkets, discount retailers, and multinational retail giants, driving growth, innovation, and cultural change at unprecedented levels.
From Atty McGrath at Aldi USA, steering rapid U.S. expansion, to Leah Weckert at Coles in Australia and Amanda Bardwell at Woolworths, these leaders are proving that vision, operational mastery, and strategic foresight know no gender. They are modernizing the shopping experience, strengthening brand identity, embracing digital transformation, and redefining what it means to lead in the competitive retail sector.
This report highlights the top 10 female CEOs currently shaping the global retail landscape. It explores their career journeys, leadership strategies, and the innovative approaches they bring to some of the world’s largest and most influential retail chains. These women are not only breaking glass ceilings—they are rewriting the rules of retail leadership and setting new standards for growth, sustainability, and customer engagement.
1. Atty McGrath — CEO, Aldi USA
Atty McGrath is leading Aldi USA at a pivotal moment in the company’s history. Rising through the ranks over 20 years, she has overseen operations, regional divisions, and supply chain management before being promoted to CEO. Under her leadership, Aldi USA is aggressively expanding, with hundreds of new stores planned across the country.
McGrath has spearheaded a major private-label packaging refresh, ensuring that every product clearly communicates Aldi’s quality and value. Her approach combines operational precision with brand strategy, proving that disciplined leadership can coexist with bold innovation. She is guiding Aldi to compete not just on price, but on recognition, trust, and customer loyalty.
2. Amanda Bardwell — CEO, Woolworths Group (Australia)
Amanda Bardwell heads Australia’s largest supermarket chain, Woolworths. With a focus on digital transformation, sustainability, and modern retail experience, Bardwell is ensuring the chain remains dominant in a highly competitive market.
She has championed initiatives to streamline operations, enhance e-commerce integration, and introduce eco-conscious practices, from packaging to supply chain efficiency. Bardwell demonstrates that strategic foresight and operational agility can coexist at the very top of the supermarket world.
3. Leah Weckert — CEO, Coles Group (Australia)
Leah Weckert became the first woman to lead Coles, one of Australia’s biggest grocery chains. She has brought a renewed focus on customer experience, sustainability, and supply chain modernization.
Weckert emphasizes employee engagement, empowering store managers and staff to innovate locally while adhering to national operational standards. Her leadership reflects a balance of big-picture strategic thinking and granular operational oversight, proving women can thrive at the helm of massive supermarket organizations.
4. Tina Lee — CEO, T&T Supermarket (Canada)
Tina Lee leads T&T Supermarket, Canada’s largest Asian grocery chain, which has expanded nationwide under her guidance. Her leadership focuses on brand identity, cultural authenticity, and consumer trust, maintaining the company’s family-founded ethos while scaling operations.
Lee has introduced customer-focused innovations, including enhanced product offerings, fresh food initiatives, and loyalty programs. Her strategic approach demonstrates how a deep understanding of customer demographics and market trends can drive long-term growth.
5. Rosalind Brewer — Former CEO, Sam’s Club & Walgreens Boots Alliance (USA)
Rosalind Brewer has led some of the largest U.S. retail and grocery operations, including Sam’s Club and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Known for her transformational leadership, she has turned operational challenges into growth opportunities, modernizing store experiences and integrating technology into retail operations.
Brewer’s career exemplifies bold decision-making, focusing on employee development, digital transformation, and customer engagement to maintain market leadership across highly competitive sectors.
6. Cindy Lee — Former CEO, T&T Supermarkets (Canada)
Cindy Lee founded T&T Supermarket and led it for decades, laying the foundation for its expansion and reputation as a leading Asian grocery chain in Canada. Her tenure represents one of the earliest examples of female leadership at scale in grocery retail, showing that women have been shaping supermarkets’ growth for decades, often behind the scenes.
7. Paula Nickolds — CEO, The White Company (UK)
Paula Nickolds is CEO of The White Company, a leading UK retail chain, and was the first woman to hold a top executive position at John Lewis. She focuses on brand expansion, e-commerce growth, and customer-centric retailing, demonstrating that leadership in luxury and lifestyle retail demands both operational excellence and visionary thinking.
8. Winnie Park — CEO, Five Below (USA)
Winnie Park leads Five Below, a fast-growing U.S. discount retail chain. She has overseen rapid store expansion, innovative marketing strategies, and operational optimization, reinforcing the chain’s unique value proposition for younger consumers. Park exemplifies how leadership can drive both growth and brand identity in the discount retail sector.
9. Clodagh Moriarty — CEO, Dunelm Group (UK)
Clodagh Moriarty is the CEO of Dunelm Group, a major UK home and lifestyle retailer. She brings extensive retail and digital expertise to the role, focusing on enhancing the in-store experience, integrating online and offline channels, and optimizing merchandising strategy. Moriarty’s approach shows how female leadership is shaping traditional retail into a modern, omni-channel business.
10. Roxanne Orsak — President, H‑E‑B (USA, Future CEO)
Roxanne Orsak is set to become the first woman to lead H‑E‑B in 2026. As President, she has already driven operational excellence, expansion, and strategic innovation at one of the U.S.’s largest privately held supermarket chains. Orsak’s appointment signals historic change and highlights the growing influence of women in shaping retail at the highest level.
The presence of women at the helm of some of the world’s largest retail chains represents more than progress in gender equality—it signifies a shift in leadership style, strategy, and culture. From operational efficiency to brand innovation, these CEOs are redefining what it means to lead in the supermarket and retail sectors.
Through their vision, decisiveness, and ability to adapt to changing consumer expectations, these women are proving that leadership excellence transcends gender. They are breaking aisles and ceilings, leaving an indelible mark on global retail, and inspiring the next generation of female executives to lead the way.