Lisa Chi returns to RH, Strengthening leadership in luxury retail merchandising

RH (NYSE: RH), the luxury home furnishings retailer known for its upscale design ethos and experiential retail galleries, has announced the appointment of Lisa Chi as its new President and Co-Chief Merchandising & Creative Officer. Reporting directly to Chairman and CEO Gary Friedman, Chi will share responsibility for leading Product Development, Merchandising, Inventory Planning, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Marketing across all RH platforms—including physical retail, digital commerce, and print media—alongside Eri Chaya, who holds the same dual title and serves on RH’s Board of Directors.

This announcement marks a pivotal moment for RH as the company doubles down on executive leadership with deep merchandising expertise to navigate a post-pandemic consumer landscape that increasingly favors premium lifestyle experiences over transactional retail. The addition of Chi is not only a strategic rehire—given her prior tenure at RH—but also a reinforcement of the company’s commitment to innovation-led growth and aesthetic leadership in a competitive sector.

What Experience Does Lisa Chi Bring Back to RH?

Lisa Chi’s reappointment is significant, as she rejoins RH after having served as Chief Merchandising Officer at Arhaus, a direct competitor in the premium home furnishing space. During her tenure at Arhaus, Chi oversaw all core functions of merchandising and product lifecycle management, including sourcing, quality control, inventory planning, and manufacturing. Her strategic leadership reportedly contributed to Arhaus surpassing the $1 billion revenue milestone, a figure that underscores her ability to guide brands through phases of accelerated expansion.

Before her time at Arhaus, Chi played a vital role at RH as Senior Vice President of Merchandising for Upholstery. There, she managed critical functions across sourcing, planning, and product development, directly contributing to RH’s growth in the high-margin upholstery category. Earlier in her career, Chi held merchandising leadership roles at Talbots, Kohl’s, and Lucky Brand, in addition to a decade at Gap Inc., where she developed a robust foundation in multi-channel retail merchandising.

Chi is a graduate of Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy, a background that complements her strategic leadership in navigating retail macro-trends, supply chain complexities, and consumer behavior shifts.

Why Is RH Elevating Its Merchandising and Creative Structure Now?

The timing of Chi’s appointment aligns with RH’s broader roadmap of scaling its design platform while extending brand relevance in both domestic and international markets. CEO Gary Friedman emphasized this strategic move by stating that RH was “honored to welcome Lisa back” as the company continues to “elevate and expand” both product and platform. He cited her “impressive accomplishments” at Arhaus and noted that her return signals a renewed commitment to excellence during a period of transformative growth.

In RH’s ongoing evolution, the brand has positioned itself not merely as a furniture retailer but as a fully integrated luxury lifestyle company. Its hybrid business model spans physical galleries, multi-volume printed sourcebooks, and a robust e-commerce infrastructure. The collaboration between Chi and Chaya is poised to strengthen this multi-platform approach, ensuring consistency in aesthetic vision while leveraging real-time merchandising data and consumer feedback.

How Does This Move Reflect Broader Retail Industry Trends?

Chi’s appointment also mirrors a wider trend in the retail sector: the rising value placed on experienced merchandising leadership to drive differentiation in a saturated market. In a post-COVID retail environment marked by prolonged supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures, strategic sourcing and inventory planning have become core competencies. Leaders like Chi, who combine operational excellence with brand vision, are increasingly vital for navigating complexity and enabling agile responses to shifting consumer demand.

Moreover, RH’s decision to reinforce its merchandising and creative leadership reflects a shift among premium retailers toward deeper executive specialization. With e-commerce and physical retail continuing to converge, brands must manage product storytelling and logistical execution in perfect harmony. This dual leadership model—anchored by Chi and Chaya—underscores RH’s belief in design-led commerce as a sustainable differentiator.

What Is the Strategic Role of Co-Chief Officers at RH?

The co-leadership structure adopted by RH is relatively uncommon in the U.S. retail sector but signals a clear intention to balance creative innovation with operational discipline. With both Chi and Chaya holding the same title and sharing oversight of critical functions, RH is likely seeking to foster greater collaboration, reduce decision bottlenecks, and enable faster time-to-market for new product lines.

This model may also function as a leadership development pathway, ensuring continuity of vision and minimizing disruption from potential executive transitions in the future. RH has consistently invested in high-profile leadership hires, and this co-executive setup positions the company to retain top talent while scaling creative complexity across geographies and verticals.

Could This Signal a New Phase of Product Expansion or Global Growth?

Chi’s leadership could also be instrumental in supporting RH’s global expansion initiatives. The company has previously outlined ambitions to bring its unique gallery model to international markets and to expand into adjacent categories, including hospitality, fashion, and real estate. Chi’s background in scaling merchandising operations at fast-growing firms makes her a natural fit to support such horizontal integration.

Given the elevated expectations in the luxury category, where consumers seek not just products but immersive brand experiences, Chi’s return could help RH sharpen its ability to deliver cohesive, elevated narratives across digital and physical spaces. RH’s history of launching ultra-luxury offerings—from aircraft-inspired furnishings to resort-style outdoor collections—suggests the brand will continue pushing creative boundaries under her renewed influence.

How Are Investors and the Market Likely to Respond?

While the stock market has yet to formally react to this executive appointment, RH’s long-term investors may view Chi’s return as a signal of strengthened leadership stability during a time of macroeconomic uncertainty. With the U.S. housing market cooling but home renovation spending still relatively elevated, RH’s emphasis on deep design expertise over discount-led strategies could be seen as a hedge against economic volatility.

Moreover, analysts and institutional investors have consistently rewarded RH for its high gross margin model and disciplined capital deployment strategy. A reinforced leadership team with a strong merchandising pedigree is likely to be interpreted as a bullish indicator, particularly as RH explores new revenue channels and consumer demographics.

What’s Next for RH Under Its Reinforced Leadership?

With Lisa Chi rejoining RH at a moment of inflection, the brand appears poised to enter its next phase of growth with sharpened focus. The convergence of merchandising expertise, creative vision, and operational rigor at the top echelons of RH’s leadership hierarchy sets the stage for sustained product innovation, tighter supply chain coordination, and stronger market positioning.

In a statement reflecting the collaborative tone of this leadership reshuffle, Chi expressed excitement about rejoining “Team RH” and her enthusiasm for working alongside Friedman, Chaya, and the broader executive team. This sentiment highlights a shared commitment to RH’s long-term mission of becoming one of the most influential brands in luxury lifestyle retail.

As the company continues to curate and scale its design platform, Lisa Chi’s appointment underscores RH’s confidence in its core model—premium product curation, brand-led merchandising, and experiential retailing—as the foundation for durable competitive advantage.