Laura J. Alber

A driving force in the growth of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Laura Alber joined the company in 1995 and has served as president and chief executive officer, as well as a member of its Board of Directors since 2010.

During her tenure, Alber has held various leadership roles, executing effective growth strategies, driving e-commerce, strengthening brand recognition, and bolstering profits for the company’s portfolio of multi-channel brands. Alber has spearheaded WSI’s innovation and expansion into new markets, including the introduction of Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Rejuvenation, and GreenRow, as well as new growth opportunities such as Business-to-Business and Marketplace.

Alber believes that WSI’s three key differentiators of in-house design, digital-first channel strategy and values, combined with its relentless focus on the customer, are core to fulfilling the company’s vision to own the home.

“Our customers love their homes, and we have a singular focus on helping make them a reflection of who they are,” says Alber. This commitment is evident across all WSI brands and Alber believes each brand’s unique design aesthetic and price-point differentiation enable the company to address a broad spectrum of customers’ personal styles, needs, and life stages.

Through her leadership, Alber also fosters a strong values-based culture, which she believes is fundamental to sustained growth and outperformance.

Alber currently serves on the Board of Salesforce and the Board of Trustees at the University of Pennsylvania.

She received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.