Fred Stokes

About Fred Stokes

I am a retail executive and military veteran with 25+ years of experience leading complex, multi‑billion‑dollar operations across Fortune 50 organizations. I have a proven track record of driving operational excellence, modernizing large‑scale enterprises, and delivering sustained revenue growth through disciplined execution and people‑first leadership.I currently serve as Senior Vice President of Store Operations at Lowe’s, where I lead one of the company’s most critical enterprise portfolios, spanning store operations support, workforce management and labor optimization, operations engineering, asset protection and safety, real estate, construction, and facilities management, store operations technology, and customer contact centers. My teams support 1,700+ stores, about associates, and billions in annual operating, labor, and capital investment, ensuring consistent execution, safety, productivity, and customer experience at scale.Previously, I served as Division President for Lowe’s West Division, overseeing 500+ stores,$24–25B in revenue, and associates. The CEO appointed me to stabilize and strengthen performance across the company’s most geographically challenging divisions. I led an operating strategy that increased Pro customer traffic and raised customer satisfaction scores to 90%. I contributed to Lowe’s recognition by Fortune as a top company for customer satisfaction.Before that, as SVP of Pro Sales & Services, I helped build and scale Lowe’s Pro platform, creating a disruptive roadmap to penetrate a $400B+ professional market. Under my leadership, the Pro business outperformed DIY by more than 200% and delivered record‑breaking sales growth.My background includes leadership roles across operations, HR, and asset protection at Lowe’s, Starbucks, and Walmart, as well as service as a U.S. Navy veteran, police detective, and FBI agent. I hold an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, am SPHR‑certified, a member of the Executive Leadership Council, and serve on the USO Board of Governors.I am passionate about leading at scale, building resilient organizations, and delivering results through clarity, accountability, and trust.Contact: f••••••••@gmail.com

Experience

1. SVP Store Operations

   Lowe's Companies, Inc.

   Mar 2026 — Present · Mooresville, NC, US

   As senior vice president, store operations, Fred Stokes is responsible for store operations support, workforce management, operations engineering, asset protection and safety, real estate, construction, store and corporate facilities management, and contact centers. He joined Lowe\'s in 2006.Fred has 25 years of experience in the retail industry, with roles in operations, human resources, and asset protection. He has held several leadership roles at Lowe\'s, including senior vice president, pro sales & services, and, most recently, division president of the West division. He has also served as regional vice president, district manager, director of associate relations, and vice president of human resources. Before Lowe\'s, he worked at Starbucks Corp. and Walmart Inc. Fred received a bachelor\'s degree in criminal justice from Governors State University and an MBA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. A former police detective and FBI agent, Fred served eight years in the U.S. Navy and sits on the board of governors for the USO. He is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council.

Education

• Governors State University

  BA, Criminal Justice

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  MBA, Executive Leadership

Skills

• Talent Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Human Resources
• College Recruiting
• Onboarding
• Team Building
• Management
• Workforce Planning
• Training
• Process Improvement
• Employee Benefits
• Payroll
• Leadership
• Interviews
• Leadership Development
• Strategy
• Succession Planning
• New Hire Orientations
• Employee Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Hiring
• Deferred Compensation
• Change Management
• Performance Management
• Employee Training
• Operations Management
• Employee Engagement
• Union Avoidance
• Union
• Fmla
• Staff Development
• Hris
• Labor Relations
• Personnel Management
• Benefits Administration
• Time Management