Levi Strauss & Co. has strengthened its board of directors by adding a marketing specialist. On December 16, The US group, owner among others of Levi’s jeans, announced that Jeffrey J. Jones II will become a member of its board on January 21, 2026.

Jones, currently president and CEO of US financial services company H&R Block, will serve as a member of the Levi Strauss board’s nominating, governance and corporate citizenship committee, as well as the compensation and human capital committee.

Jones will retire from his post at H&R Block, which he joined in 2017, on December 31, 2025. He is an experienced executive with a 30-year-plus career, notably as a marketing strategy specialist. In 2016, he joined Uber Technologies Inc., where he was president of the Ride Sharing division, in charge of operations, customer support, strategy and planning, product operations and marketing.  He was previously executive vice-president and CMO at Target Corporation, overseeing brand, digital and customer experience strategy, corporate communications, investor relations, and brand management for all of Target’s owned brands and limited-time offering collaborations. Jones’s diverse corporate experience, and his expertise in businesses specialising in direct-to-consumer relations are of special interest to the Levi Strauss board.

“Mr Jones brings extensive experience in consumer insights, brand building and organisational transformation, and has a proven record of creating significant stakeholder value,” said Bob Eckert, chairman of the board at Levi Strauss & Co. “He has repeatedly strengthened brands and organisations across industries, and his leadership will play a critical role as we evolve LS&Co. into a best-in-class, DTC-first retailer,” Eckert added.
 
Earlier in his career, Jones worked at Gap, and was a partner and president at advertising agency McKinney, where he led major client projects and fostered organisational growth.

“Levi Strauss & Co. is an iconic company with a bold vision for the future, and I’m honoured to join the board at such a pivotal moment,” said Jones in a press release. “The company has been on a strong trajectory, deepening its connection with consumers and driving long-term, sustainable growth. I look forward to supporting the entire leadership team as they write the next chapter for this nearly 175-year-old company,” he added.

The Levi Strauss board of directors currently consists of 12 members, including CEO Michelle Gass.