Ragnar Lesch, PhD
About Ragnar Lesch, PhD
Ragnar Lesch, PhD, is the Director of Data Science at Kohl's Department Stores, with extensive experience in data science, predictive modeling, and analytics across various industries.
Title and Current Employment
Ragnar Lesch, PhD, is currently the Director of Data Science at Kohl's Department Stores, a position he has held since 2019. He operates from Milpitas, CA, where he leads data science initiatives for the company.
Previous Roles and Employment History
Ragnar Lesch has a rich employment history spanning multiple roles and industries. Prior to his current role, he worked as a Sr Data Science Manager at Kohl's Department Stores from 2016 to 2019. In 2016, he held a Data Scientist position at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (via AllTech Systems) for 4 months. In 2015, he was a Marketing Database Consultant for PRO Unlimited on assignment at Charles Schwab. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Lead Data Scientist - Machine Learning at Universal McCann (The Interpublic Group). He co-founded ARA Capital, LLC in 2009, where he was Analytics Lead until 2010. Earlier roles include Predictive Modeler/Manager at Allstate Research and Planning Center, Sr Predictive Modeler at Valen Technologies, Inc., Co-Founder and Technology Lead at Kosmedix, Inc., and a Quantitative Analyst and Developer at Quantlab Financial, LLC.
Educational Background
Ragnar Lesch has a strong academic foundation in data science and related fields. He earned his PhD from Aston University, studying from 1996 to 1999. Prior to that, he achieved a Master of Science degree from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, where he studied from 1990 to 1996. Additionally, he completed the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF) from 7city Learning, London in 2006.
Experience in Data Science and Analytics
Ragnar Lesch brings extensive experience in data science and analytics to his role as Director of Data Science at Kohl's. Notably, he has served in various senior data science roles including at Universal McCann as Lead Data Scientist and at Allstate Research and Planning Center as Predictive Modeler/Manager. His expertise spans machine learning, predictive modeling, and quantitative analysis.
Co-Founding Experience
In addition to his roles in established companies, Ragnar Lesch has entrepreneurial experience. He co-founded ARA Capital, LLC, where he led analytics initiatives. He also co-founded Kosmedix, Inc., serving as Technology Lead. These roles highlight his ability to drive and manage innovative projects from the ground up.