Shelly Ibach, Sleep Number® setting 40, is Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sleep Number Corporation. As CEO since June 2012, Shelly’s focus on consumer innovation has transformed the one-time mattress retailer into a sleep wellness technology leader. During her tenure, Sleep Number has improved over 15 million lives, delivered meaningful stakeholder value, and committed to a purpose of improving the health and wellbeing of society through higher quality sleep.
Shelly, a known visionary and entrepreneur, propelled Sleep Number to disrupt the commoditized mattress industry. Recognizing the demand for connected sleep, she led Sleep Number to introduce the world's first commercialized smart bed in 2014. Sleep Number smart beds integrate digital and physical innovations for unparalleled comfort; 94% of sleepers report better sleep versus a non-smart bed. Additionally, Shelly led the company’s strategic shift to a vertically integrated, direct-to-consumer model, which today includes 640 nationwide stores; 4,000 mission-driven team members; and over three million connected smart sleepers, with whom Sleep Number builds lifelong relationships. The company’s 26 billion hours of proprietary, longitudinal sleep data fuel its robust IP portfolio and partnerships with global research institutions alike, with a goal to improve sleep health – and society – for all.
After joining Sleep Number’s executive team in April 2007, Shelly became Chief Operating Officer in 2011, overseeing consumer strategy, sales, marketing and product development. In 2022 – following six consecutive quarters of double-digit demand growth - she became the company’s Board Chair. Prior to Sleep Number, Shelly spent over 20 years at Target Corporation and Macy’s, sharpening her talents as an expert retailer, brand innovator, and sales and finance leader.
Strong teams and enduring relationships are cornerstone to Shelly’s leadership. She guided Sleep Number to deliver transformational partnerships with the National Football League (NFL), Mayo Clinic and the American Cancer Society (ACS), among others. Because of the NFL partnership, over 80% of NFL players benefit from Sleep Number smart beds. With ACS, the two organizations are embarking upon foundational sleep research that may potentially inform the first-ever, cancer-specific sleep guidelines, which could have long-term impacts on cancer patients, survivors and prevention. In 2022, ACS presented Sleep Number with the prestigious title, Corporate Partner of the Year.
Shelly has served as the chairperson for the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer Minnesota chapter since 2020, receiving the ACS Game Changer Award in 2024. In 2021, she joined the Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) External Advisory Board. Additionally, she serves on the executive committee of the Minnesota Business Partnership, an organization focused on further enhancing the region’s quality of life. Shelly was named Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 2019 Executive of the Year and was named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 National Finalist. A passionate advocate of quality sleep for everyone, she was awarded the GENYOUth Vanguard Award in 2022 for her empathy, leadership and courage.