San Francisco — The board of directors of Gap Inc., whose portfolio includes Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, has appointed Richard Dickson as the company’s president and chief executive officer, effective August 22, 2023. He joins the company from toy maker Mattel.
“Richard has invaluable expertise in areas critical to the work Gap Inc. is doing to strengthen the company for the long term. And we are thrilled to have his visionary leadership as the company redefines the future potential of Gap Inc. and its renowned American fashion brands,” says Mayo A. Shattuck III, lead independent director.
Dickson will join Gap Inc. from his most recent role as president and chief operating officer of Mattel, where he was a lead architect in a global corporate transformation that has reinvigorated Mattel’s iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, as well as restored the company to growth and reaffirmed Mattel as an industry thought leader. Dickson was appointed to the Gap Inc. board of directors in November of 2022.
“On behalf of the Gap Inc. board and management team, I want to thank Bobby Martin for serving as Interim CEO during this important time, and the teams who have moved quickly to simplify the company’s operating model, increase the speed and quality of decision making, and restore its creative muscle — work that will pay back for years to come,” says Shattuck.
Martin will remain chair of the board and ensure a smooth transition.
Prior to Mattel, Dickson was president and CEO of branded businesses for The Jones Group, where he led global design and development, including marketing and merchandising, wholesale, retail and e-commerce, brought new relevance to dated fashion labels and acquired and developed new brands. Dickson also co-founded Gloss.com, the first online retailer dedicated to high-end cosmetics, and served as an executive at Bloomingdale’s.
Gap Inc. is the largest American specialty apparel company offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women and children. For more information, visit www.gapinc.com.
SOURCE: Gap Inc.