Ted Decker ’85
Chair, President & CEO, The Home Depot
Major:
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Ted Decker joined The Home Depot in 2000 as director of business valuation, and during two decades with the company held a variety of strategic positions that blended the “art and science of retail.” Now, as chair, president and CEO, he oversees all aspects of the world’s largest home improvement retailer, which includes more than 2,300 stores and 500,000 associates.
Ted was named president and chief operating officer in October 2020, with responsibility for global store operations, global supply chain, outside sales and service, real estate, merchandising, marketing and online strategy. He became CEO in March 2022 and chair of The Home Depot Board of Directors later that year.
Ted grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and chose William & Mary in part because of his interest in history. He also enjoyed studying literature and became an English major. While at W&M, he met his future wife, Cathy Creekmore Decker ’86 — later, they were married in the Wren Chapel. Ted received his MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining The Home Depot, he held positions at Kimberly-Clark Corp., Scott Paper Co. and PNC Bank. Globally minded, he has lived and worked internationally in England and Australia.
