Ulta hires Domino’s technology chief Kelly Garcia as CTO

Ulta Beauty has appointed Kelly Garcia as chief technology officer, effective Aug. 31, as the cosmetics retailer continues a multiyear overhaul of its core systems and broader use of AI. Garcia is leaving Domino’s after 14 years, most recently as executive vice president and CTO, and will also step down from Ulta’s board to take the operating role.

The appointment puts a retail and restaurant technology veteran in charge of Ulta’s next phase of technology work under its Ulta Beauty Unleashed strategy, which the company says is intended to increase market share and improve customer personalization. Ulta did not specify compensation terms or give a detailed project list for Garcia’s remit.

Garcia’s move is notable because Domino’s has been one of the more visible consumer brands in building digital ordering, loyalty and operations technology as part of the core product experience. Ulta is trying to apply a similar logic to beauty retail, where store operations, loyalty data, e-commerce and personalization increasingly sit in the same technology stack.

What Garcia inherits

Ulta has spent the past several years replacing and modernizing key systems. The company has upgraded its ERP system, moved to a custom digital store platform, replaced an older point-of-sale system and worked on data management and governance, according to prior comments reported by CIO Dive.

Those efforts were positioned internally as groundwork for wider use of AI agents. Mike Maresca, Ulta’s former chief technology and transformation officer, told CIO Dive in 2025 that the company had been preparing its systems for broader AI adoption. Maresca left Ulta earlier this month.

Ulta’s AI plans also included employee training. Maresca said last year that the company was using a tiered approach to upskill associates, with an emphasis on vetting AI systems, transparency, ethical use and compliance.

Garcia will take over after serving on Ulta’s board, where the company said he contributed technology and business perspective. Kecia Steelman, Ulta’s president and CEO, said in a company statement that Garcia brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across global e-commerce, loyalty, digital innovation and cybersecurity. She also cited his experience with emerging technologies including AI.

Domino’s background

Garcia’s technology role at Domino’s expanded in 2020, when he also took on CIO responsibilities. The company renamed its IT organization “Domino’s Technology” as it increased its focus on building internal systems to support operations.

Domino’s has continued to attach operational changes to technology releases. Earlier this year, the company introduced a custom AI tracking engine that uses machine learning and real-time inputs from workers to improve delivery and pickup estimates. Domino’s also updated its e-commerce platform and mobile website as part of its Hungry for More strategy, which is aimed at improving food quality and operations.

For Ulta, the hire signals that its technology agenda is moving from infrastructure replacement toward execution across customer experience and operations. The company has not disclosed new metrics tied to Garcia’s appointment, such as revenue targets, AI cost savings, headcount changes or technology budget levels.

Ulta opened its first stores in Mexico in August 2025, adding another layer to its operating complexity as it works on digital systems and customer personalization. Garcia’s brief will be judged less by AI language in the strategy and more by whether Ulta can turn recent system upgrades into faster retail execution.

This story draws on original reporting from CIO Dive.