San Francisco — Gap Inc. has appointed Mary Beth Laughton as president and chief executive officer of Athleta. Laughton will begin her new role in late October and will serve on Gap Inc.’s senior leadership team reporting to president and chief executive officer Art Peck. She joins Gap from Sephora.
“Mary Beth brings a strong background in digital operations, a keen understanding of customers and an ability to deliver innovative experiences,” says Peck. “She is the right leader for Athleta, with a proven track record in driving consistent results in multiple growth markets, including performance apparel and beauty.”
Laughton is a 20+ year retail and digital executive with a strong background in driving omni-channel growth through innovative experiences at companies, including Sephora and Nike. Most recently, she was executive vice president of omni retail for Sephora U.S., leading both the e-commerce and stores channels. She has overseen areas including digital marketing and merchandising, store operations and field, CRM/analytics, omnichannel experience and digital innovation.
Prior to that, Laughton spent 9 years at Nike, in a variety of roles including general manager of e-commerce for Europe and the director of e-commerce for Nike subsidiaries, including Cole Haan, Converse and Hurley.
Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, Janie and Jack, and Hill City brands. For more information, visit gapinc.com.
Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to carry a woman through her life in motion — from yoga and training to commute and travel. In 2016 the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in San Francisco and a Gap Inc. brand, Athleta has approximately 170 retail stores across the country. For more information, visit athleta.com.
SOURCE: Gap Inc.