Consumer
Wanted: Turnaround Artist to Revive Tired Clothing Brand. Apparel Experience Optional
- Apparel companies Gap, VF Corp. chose leaders from toys, tech
- New leaders have track records reviving flailing brands
Gap announced this week that it chose Richard Dickson as its next CEO.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Struggling fashion and apparel retailers are turning to outsiders with strong track records reviving once-flailing brands in order to end their own slumps.
Gap Inc.’s announcement this week that it chose Mattel Inc.’s Richard Dickson as its next chief executive officer was the most recent in a series of executive appointments in fashion retail from outside the industry. Last year saw record turnover of apparel and footwear executives, according to Cathy Logue, managing director at executive-search firm Stanton Chase. Their replacements have come from worlds as varied as tech, tires and travel.