Burlington Stores, Inc., one of America’s leading off-price retailers, was founded in 1972 in Burlington, New Jersey. Today, Burlington CEO Michael O’Sullivan leads the company’s impressive expansion across more than 1,200 stores nationwide. Appointed in September 2019, O’Sullivan — a seasoned off-price retail veteran who previously spent 16 years at Ross Stores, rising to President and COO — has driven Burlington’s transformation from a regional player into a national powerhouse with revenues exceeding $11.5 billion in fiscal 2025. Under his leadership, Burlington has delivered consistent comparable store sales growth, expanded its store footprint by hundreds of locations, and significantly improved profitability.

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Michael O’Sullivan – Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Michael B. O’Sullivan was born in approximately 1964 in the United Kingdom. He grew up in England and pursued higher education at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. O’Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1985, where he developed the analytical and strategic thinking skills that would define his career in retail and management consulting.

After gaining several years of professional experience, O’Sullivan crossed the Atlantic to further his education. He enrolled at Columbia Business School in New York City, earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1991. Columbia’s rigorous curriculum and emphasis on value investing and strategic management provided O’Sullivan with the business acumen that would serve him well in his subsequent career in consulting and retail leadership.

Education Summary

Career History

Michael O’Sullivan’s career spans over three decades across management consulting and off-price retail — two domains that uniquely prepared him to lead Burlington Stores. His trajectory from a strategy consultant at Bain & Company to the top executive at one of America’s largest retailers reflects a deep understanding of both strategic thinking and operational execution.

Bain & Company (1991–2003)

After completing his MBA at Columbia, O’Sullivan joined Bain & Company, one of the world’s top management consulting firms. Over 12 years, he rose to the rank of Partner, working extensively with companies in the retail industry on business strategy, performance improvement, and operational transformation. His consulting work gave him a broad, analytical perspective on what separates successful retailers from struggling ones — insights that would prove invaluable in his later operational roles.

Ross Stores (2003–2019)

In 2003, O’Sullivan made the transition from consulting to operations, joining Ross Stores, Inc. — the second-largest off-price retailer in the United States. Over 16 years at Ross, he steadily climbed the leadership ranks, taking on responsibility for major functional areas including stores, supply chain, finance, IT, human resources, loss prevention, and marketing.

In 2009, O’Sullivan was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, a role he held until 2019. He also served on the Ross Stores Board of Directors from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, Ross Stores grew from approximately $6 billion to nearly $15 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the most consistently profitable retailers in America. O’Sullivan played a central role in that growth, helping Ross maintain its disciplined, low-cost operating model while expanding its store base.

Michael O’Sullivan Career Timeline

CEO of Burlington Stores

Michael O’Sullivan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Burlington Stores in September 2019, succeeding Thomas Kingsbury. His hiring was widely regarded as a coup for Burlington, as O’Sullivan brought unmatched off-price retail expertise from his years at Ross Stores — Burlington’s primary competitor alongside TJX Companies.

O’Sullivan’s initial months as CEO focused on refining Burlington’s off-price model. He implemented what he called “Burlington 2.0,” a strategic initiative designed to improve merchandising, streamline operations, and reduce the average store size from approximately 80,000 square feet to around 25,000–35,000 square feet. This smaller-format approach allowed Burlington to enter markets and locations that were previously inaccessible, dramatically expanding the company’s addressable real estate.

Navigating the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic struck just months into O’Sullivan’s tenure. Burlington was forced to temporarily close all of its stores in March 2020. O’Sullivan and his executive team voluntarily slashed their pay by 50%, with O’Sullivan himself taking no salary during the height of the crisis. The company emerged from the pandemic with a leaner cost structure and a renewed focus on off-price fundamentals.

Growth Under O’Sullivan

Since O’Sullivan took the helm, Burlington has delivered impressive growth. The company has expanded from approximately 740 stores in 2019 to 1,212 stores by the end of fiscal 2025. Revenue has grown from $7.3 billion in fiscal 2019 to $11.55 billion in fiscal 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8%. The company has also opened new distribution centers to support this rapid expansion, including a planned new facility in Savannah, Georgia, for fiscal 2026.

Leadership & Achievements

Michael O’Sullivan’s leadership style is characterized by disciplined execution, a relentless focus on the off-price value proposition, and a data-driven approach to decision-making — traits honed during his years at Bain & Company. Key achievements under his leadership include:

• Burlington 2.0 Strategy: Transformed the company’s real estate approach by shifting to smaller-format stores, enabling faster store growth and improved unit economics
• Aggressive Store Expansion: Grew the store count from ~740 to 1,212 locations, with plans to open 110 net new stores in fiscal 2026
• Revenue Growth: Drove total sales from $7.3B to $11.55B, a 58%+ increase over his tenure
• Profitability Improvement: Fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of $10.17, up 22% year-over-year, with continued margin expansion
• Comparable Store Sales: Delivered consistent comp growth, including 4% in Q4 fiscal 2025 on top of 6% the prior year
• Tariff Strategy: Successfully navigated tariff challenges by leveraging Burlington’s off-price buying model, which benefits from excess inventory in the market
• NJBIZ Power 100: Named to the NJBIZ Power 100 list in 2025, recognizing his influence in New Jersey’s business community
• Pandemic Leadership: Voluntarily took zero salary during COVID-19 store closures, demonstrating leadership by example

Personal Life

Michael O’Sullivan is known for maintaining a very private personal life. Details about his spouse, children, and family are not publicly available. Born in the United Kingdom, O’Sullivan holds dual British-American citizenship. He is based in the New Jersey area, near Burlington Stores’ corporate headquarters.

O’Sullivan is known among colleagues and industry observers for his analytical, no-nonsense leadership style. He avoids the spotlight and rarely gives interviews outside of earnings calls and investor presentations. His approach to leadership reflects the disciplined, cost-conscious culture he has cultivated at Burlington — focused on execution rather than self-promotion.

Michael O’Sullivan Net Worth 2026 – Burlington Stores CEO Salary

As of 2026, Michael O’Sullivan’s net worth is estimated at approximately $30 million, based primarily on his disclosed Burlington Stores stock holdings. According to SEC filings, O’Sullivan directly owns approximately 0.16% of Burlington Stores outstanding shares, valued at roughly $30.2 million based on current market prices.

Burlington Stores CEO Compensation Breakdown (FY2024)

Burlington Stores Net Worth 2026 – Financial Summary

Burlington Stores, Inc. has delivered strong financial results under CEO Michael O’Sullivan. The company reported its fiscal 2025 (ending February 2026) earnings on March 5, 2026, showing continued growth across key metrics.

Burlington Stores Financial Summary (FY2025)

Burlington Stores CEO Email & Contact

Below are the official contact details for Burlington Stores CEO Michael O’Sullivan:

Burlington Stores Competitors

Burlington Stores operates in the highly competitive off-price retail industry. The key competitors of Burlington Stores include:

• TJX Companies (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods) — the largest off-price retailer globally
• Ross Stores (Ross Dress for Less, dd’s DISCOUNTS) — Burlington’s closest direct competitor
• Nordstrom Rack — premium off-price retailer
• Five Below — value retailer targeting younger demographics
• Kohl’s — mid-range department store with off-price elements
• Ollie’s Bargain Outlet — closeout retailer
• Macy’s Backstage — Macy’s off-price concept
• Target — mass-market retailer competing on value

About Burlington Stores

Burlington Stores, Inc. is an American off-price department store chain headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey. Originally founded in 1972 as Burlington Coat Factory, the company rebranded to “Burlington” in 2014 to reflect its broader merchandise assortment beyond coats and outerwear.

Today, Burlington operates 1,212 stores across 46 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, offering brand-name merchandise at everyday low prices. The company’s product categories include women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories, home decor, toys, and baby products. Burlington trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BURL and has a market capitalization of approximately $19.1 billion as of March 2026.

The company’s off-price model is built on opportunistic buying — purchasing excess inventory, closeouts, and overruns from brands and manufacturers at significant discounts, then passing those savings on to consumers. This model tends to perform well during economic uncertainty, as both deal-seeking consumers and brands with excess inventory gravitate toward the off-price channel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is the CEO of Burlington Stores?

The current CEO of Burlington Stores is Michael O’Sullivan, who has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director since September 2019. Before joining Burlington, he spent 16 years at Ross Stores, where he rose to President and Chief Operating Officer.

What is Burlington CEO’s salary?

Michael O’Sullivan’s total compensation for fiscal year 2024 was approximately $15.4 million, including a $1.475 million base salary, $3.39 million annual bonus, $2.63 million in stock options, and $7.9 million in stock awards. Over 90% of his compensation is performance-based.

What is Michael O’Sullivan’s net worth?

Michael O’Sullivan’s net worth is estimated at approximately $30 million as of 2026, primarily based on his disclosed Burlington Stores stock holdings. He directly owns about 0.16% of Burlington Stores’ outstanding shares.

What is Burlington CEO’s email address?

Burlington Stores CEO Michael O’Sullivan’s email address is [email protected]. The company’s corporate headquarters is located at 2006 Route 130 North, Burlington, NJ 08016.

How many Burlington stores are there?

As of the end of fiscal 2025 (February 2026), Burlington operates 1,212 stores across 46 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The company plans to open 110 net new stores in fiscal 2026.

What did Michael O’Sullivan do before Burlington?

Before becoming Burlington CEO, Michael O’Sullivan spent 16 years at Ross Stores, rising to President and Chief Operating Officer. Earlier in his career, he was a Partner at Bain & Company for 12 years. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Oxford and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Is Burlington Stores profitable?

Yes, Burlington Stores is profitable. In fiscal year 2025, the company reported net income of $610 million on revenue of $11.55 billion. Adjusted earnings per share grew 22% year-over-year to $10.17, reflecting continued margin expansion and strong operational execution.

Conclusion

Michael O’Sullivan has established himself as one of the most effective leaders in American retail since taking the helm at Burlington Stores in 2019. His deep expertise in the off-price sector, honed over 16 years at Ross Stores and shaped by his background in management consulting at Bain & Company, has enabled him to transform Burlington from a mid-sized regional retailer into a national powerhouse with over 1,200 stores and $11.5 billion in annual revenue. With a bullish outlook for fiscal 2026 and plans to continue aggressive store expansion, O’Sullivan appears poised to further cement Burlington’s position as a leading off-price retailer in the United States.

Article last updated: March 2026