Regis Corporation oversees more than 4,800 haircare salons around the globe and has built its reputation on a franchise model that balances entrepreneur driven innovation with centralized support. Today the company announced that Matthew Doctor will step down as President, CEO and Director effective June 30, 2025, concluding a tenure marked by renewed growth and operational stability. Under Doctor’s leadership the company stabilized profitability and set clear strategic priorities for digital engagement and franchisee training. To bridge the gap the Board of Directors has appointed Jim Lain, Executive Vice President of Brand Operations for Supercuts and Cost Cutters, as interim CEO while a search for a permanent successor proceeds. By elevating an internal leader Regis preserves institutional knowledge and reassures franchisees and investors that core initiatives will continue without interruption. At the same time the external search will cast a wide net to attract candidates with fresh perspectives on digital transformation and global expansion. This dual track approach reflects best practices in leadership transitions and ensures that no single stakeholder group feels overlooked.
Performance Under Doctor
During Matthew Doctor’s four-and-a-half-year tenure, Regis achieved notable improvements in same-store sales and unit economics. In the first two months of the fourth quarter, same-store sales at Supercuts rose 4.5 percent, while consolidated sales increased 2.8 percent, underscoring the effectiveness of his pricing and marketing strategies. Doctor championed a data-driven approach to pricing that combined demographic insights with customer feedback, allowing franchisees to optimize service bundles for higher margins. He also expanded digital booking capabilities via a mobile-first platform, which reduced no-show rates and enhanced client convenience. Simultaneously, Doctor launched an e-learning academy for franchise owners and salon managers, drawing on best practices from industry associations to standardize training and improve stylist retention. These programs emphasized customer service excellence, driving improvements in Net Promoter Scores across key markets. By focusing equally on front-line operations and behind-the-scenes efficiencies, Doctor built a foundation for both short-term gains and long-term scalability.
Doctor’s initiatives extended beyond operational tweaks to embrace a broader transformation of the company’s culture. He fostered cross-functional collaboration among marketing, IT, and operations teams to accelerate innovation cycles. This agile mindset enabled rapid testing of new loyalty rewards and targeted local promotions, strengthening franchisee buy-in. Under his guidance, the company also piloted AI-driven analytics to forecast appointment demand and optimize staffing levels, preparing the organization for next-generation service models. Doctor’s holistic leadership style balanced rigorous financial discipline with an emphasis on people development, setting the stage for future leaders to build on a culture of continuous improvement.
Interim Leadership
Jim Lain brings more than three decades of retail and franchise experience to his role as interim CEO. Since joining Regis in 2013, he has overseen operations for Supercuts, SmartStyle, Cost Cutters, First Choice Haircutters, and Roosters, implementing performance dashboards that track metrics such as ticket size, client retention, and stylist productivity. Lain’s methodical approach mirrors McKinsey & Company’s frameworks for operational excellence, which emphasize real time insights and iterative improvement cycles. Prior to Regis, he held leadership roles at Gap Inc., where he honed skills in large scale workforce management and supply chain optimization.
In his interim capacity, Lain has already convened roundtables with top franchise partners to gather feedback on the mobile booking platform and loyalty program enhancements. He plans to refine the user interface based on this input, ensuring technology investments continue to deliver measurable value. Lain’s commitment to transparent communication and collaborative decision making reinforces stakeholder confidence during the transition. By maintaining focus on key strategic priorities such as digital engagement, operational efficiency and franchisee support, he aims to preserve momentum and minimize disruption until a permanent CEO is appointed.
Succession Planning Strategy
Regis’s Board adopted a dual-track succession plan designed to balance internal continuity with external innovation. Promoting Jim Lain to interim CEO ensures that the company’s strategic priorities remain on course, while an external executive search targets leaders with proven expertise in digital transformation, brand expansion, and global market entry. This approach aligns with best practices in organizational succession planning, which emphasize stakeholder involvement, scenario-based assessments, and leadership readiness. Finalist candidates will participate in simulations that test their ability to navigate franchising complexities, integrate emerging technologies, and drive cultural alignment.
Such a structured methodology provides transparency and minimizes transition risk. Franchisees, investors, and employees receive regular updates on the process, reinforcing trust in governance. By combining internal grooming with external benchmarking, Regis aims to secure a permanent CEO who can build on Doctor’s legacy, sustain digital momentum, and propel the company into its next growth phase.
Digital Transformation Initiatives
Building on earlier digital investments, Regis plans to introduce AI-driven scheduling suggestions and real-time stylist availability alerts to its mobile booking platform. These enhancements draw directly from Accenture’s research on retail reinvention, which highlights AI’s role in creating personalized, seamless omnichannel experiences. By analyzing client preferences and booking patterns, the system will recommend optimal appointment times, reduce service gaps, and boost overall utilization. Automated upsell prompts within the booking flow will suggest add-on treatments based on past behavior, driving incremental revenue.
Franchisees will access performance dashboards that link digital engagement metrics to financial outcomes, enabling targeted coaching and best-practice sharing. This data-centric approach ensures that technology upgrades translate into tangible business impact and prepares the organization for deeper integration of AI across marketing, operations, and customer service.
Investor and Market Reaction
The stock market reacted positively to Regis’s announcement and internal appointment, with the company’s shares showing a remarkable 318 percent total return over the past year—even after a 20 percent pullback in the last six months. Analysts attribute this resilience to the recurring-revenue nature of the franchise model and the cost-light capital structure relative to traditional retail peers. The smooth leadership transition and clarity around strategic direction further bolstered investor confidence. Preliminary feedback from franchise owners also suggests optimism about the continuity of digital and training initiatives.
Future Priorities
Looking ahead, the incoming permanent CEO will focus on three strategic pillars: accelerating digital innovation, optimizing the salon network footprint, and exploring adjacent service lines such as wellness treatments and subscription models. These priorities reflect Accenture’s recommendations for retail transformation, which call for seamless customer journeys and diversified revenue streams. Engaging franchisees through co-creation workshops and transparent planning sessions will be vital to secure alignment. The new leader must foster a culture of experimentation and evidence-based decision-making to sustain competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving market.
Closing Management Takeaway
Regis’s leadership transition illustrates the value of blending internal promotion with an open external search. By embedding structured succession practices, including stakeholder workshops and scenario assessments, the Board ensures stability and invites innovation. Managers should develop dual-track succession plans that groom internal talent while exploring external expertise. Early and transparent communication with stakeholders builds trust and minimizes disruption. Balancing established operational strengths with fresh strategic vision will drive sustainable growth and keep organizations ahead of market shifts.
Written By,
Patrick Endicott
Patrick is the Executive Director of the Society for Advancement of Management, is driven by a deep commitment to innovation and sustainable business practices. With a rich background spanning over a decade in management, publications, and association leadership, Patrick has achieved notable success in launching and overseeing multiple organizations, earning acclaim for his forward-thinking guidance. Beyond his role in shaping the future of management, Patrick indulges his passion for theme parks and all things Star Wars in his downtime.