Chip Bergh

Chip Bergh served as Chair of the Board of HP Inc. since July 2017, stepping down as the company appoints new leadership in November 2026. During his tenure, Bergh provided strong leadership as Chair for nine years, guiding HP through significant change while maintaining focus on governance, capital allocation and value creation. A self-described "brand guy," Bergh is widely recognized as an architect of iconic consumer brands and successful corporate turnarounds.

Bergh served as President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. from September 2011 until January 2024, where he orchestrated a dramatic company revival. The company's revenues grew roughly 40% and its market cap increased five-fold during his 12+ years as CEO, marked by sustained profitable growth behind purpose-driven leadership. He was credited with turning the company around by modernizing its e-commerce division and expanding overseas markets, and in March 2019 Levi Strauss went public with an IPO that raised more than $620 million. Under his leadership, Bergh was instrumental in marrying Levi's heritage with a new brand of cool appealing to Gen-Z through collaborations with high fashion brands including Vetements, Off-White, and Gosha Rubchinsky.

Before joining Levi Strauss, Bergh had a 28-year career at Procter & Gamble in roles of increasing complexity in brand management, general management and executive leadership. His career at P&G included serving as Group President of Global Male Grooming and led the global expansion of Gillette Fusion to more than 80 markets outside of North America. Among his accomplishments at P&G, Bergh led the creation and launch of Swiffer and oversaw the turnaround of Mr. Clean.

Education & Early Career

Bergh earned a B.A. in International Affairs from Lafayette College and started his career as a US Army Officer (Air Defense) stationed in West Germany from 1979–1983. Bergh joined the Board of Directors of HP, Inc. in 2015 and became Chair of the Board in July 2017. Currently, he serves as a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and sits on the boards of e.l.f. Beauty, Inc., lululemon athletica, inc., and Pinterest, Inc.

Career History

• Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School (2024–present)
• President and Chief Executive Officer, Levi Strauss & Co. (September 2011–January 2024)
• Group President for Global Grooming, Procter & Gamble (2005–2011)
• President for Southeast Asia, Australasia, and India, Procter & Gamble (1999–2005)
• Various brand management roles, Procter & Gamble (1983–1999)
• US Army Officer (1979–1983)

Notable Achievements & Recognition

In 2019, Bergh was named one of Fortune Magazine's World's Greatest Leaders, ranking 16th on the list, and has been widely recognized for his statements and actions on issues like gun violence prevention. Bergh authored A Levi's Story: Leading the Revival of an Iconic Brand (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2027), which distills his career lessons into six tenets of what he calls "brand-driven leadership."

What Chip Bergh Could Bring to HP Inc. as Outgoing Chair

As HP transitions leadership, Bergh's nine-year tenure demonstrates his capacity to guide large technology companies through strategic transformation and digital modernization. His deep expertise in revitalizing heritage brands for contemporary markets—demonstrated most notably through Levi's successful turnaround and IPO—positions him to have stewarded HP through critical shifts in printing and personal systems. His track record of building high-performing leadership teams, combined with his commitment to values-driven governance and stakeholder capitalism, suggests he has provided the board-level guidance necessary for HP to maintain competitive footing in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.