San Francisco — Gap Inc. has named Maggie Gauger as global brand president and CEO of Athleta, effective August 1, as Chris Blakeslee steps down from the role. Gauger joins the company from Nike.
“We are thrilled for Maggie Gauger to join as CEO of Athleta as we look to accelerate the brand’s reinvigoration,” says Richard Dickson, Gap Inc. CEO. “Maggie blends proven business transformation capabilities, deep consumer centricity, product fluency and a heartfelt commitment to empowering women and girls. This combination of skills and experiences will equip her to lead Athleta into its next chapter of growth — rooted in purpose, performance and people.”
Gauger, a proven leader in women’s active sport and style, comes to Athleta with more than 20 years of experience in key leadership roles at Nike, most recently serving as the head of its North America Women’s Business. Her extensive background across retail, strategy, merchandising, product creation, commerce, digital and general management — both domestically and globally — are critical assets to the future growth of Athleta.
As Gauger transitions into her role, Blakeslee will remain with the company as an advisor to support a smooth transition.
Gap Inc. is the largest specialty apparel company in America. Its Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta brands offer clothing, accessories and lifestyle products for men, women and children available worldwide through company-operated and franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Since 1969, Gap Inc. has created products and experiences that shape culture. For more information, visit www.gapinc.com.
Athleta is a premium performance lifestyle brand. Athleta’s versatile performance apparel is designed for women by women, with inclusivity at its core. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features into their products to support women across their entire lifestyle — from yoga and training to travel and recovery. 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 apparel is available at over 250 retail stores across the United States and Canada and at www.Athleta.com.
SOURCE: Gap Inc.