The following message was originally sent by CEO Chip Bergh to LS&Co. employees regarding the retirement of Chief Legal Officer Seth Jaffe in June.
Team:
I’m writing to let you know that Chief Legal Officer Seth Jaffe has decided to retire from LS&Co. effective June 2.
Seth and I started on the same day — September 1, 2011 — and I feel so fortunate to have had Seth by my side for the past 11-plus years. I can say that Seth has been a true consigliere to me, providing guidance, counsel and a second opinion on matters far beyond the legal realm. He has served as a trusted advisor and invaluable partner to me as the company has faced both triumphs and challenges. Notably, he has played a key role in our ongoing partnership with the board, helped drive the turnaround of the company, was a major player in orchestrating the naming rights for Levi’s® Stadium, was at the center of the team that drove the company’s 2019 IPO and was at the table as we negotiated one of the company’s first acquisitions in decades, buying Beyond Yoga in 2021 — all of which will leave a lasting positive impact on this company. He has also been instrumental in difficult times, such as helping us navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring we kept our people as safe as possible.
In addition to these most recent years here, Seth served an earlier 15-year stint at LS&Co. — from 1984 to 1999 — where he held roles in the U.S., Asia Pacific and European businesses, working his way up to the position of chief counsel. That means Seth has spent 26 years of his 43-year career here at LS&Co. Talk about dedication!
I know part of the reason Seth decided to come back to LS&Co. is because of our values, and he has been one of their strongest champions. One of the most important responsibilities of the chief legal officer is to ensure we’re making the best decisions not just from a legal or compliance point of view, but in terms of doing the right thing overall. Throughout his tenure here, he has always advocated for leading with our values, putting our people first and upholding our commitment to profits through principles. As executive sponsor of the V.O.I.C.E. ERG, he drew on his personal and professional experience in support of immigrants and allies within the LS&Co. family. He’s also made a strong impact on bringing our values to life through his role overseeing the Levi Strauss Foundation and sitting on the LSF board.
Although Seth is stepping down from his work at LS&Co., he still plans to remain busy — teaching classes at Berkeley Law and USF School of Law, playing the timpani, serving on the boards of the Mill Valley Philharmonic and the Hand in Hand Foundation, giving back to his community and spending time with his family.
Please join me in thanking Seth for his many years of dedication to this company and wishing him all the best on his next adventures.
