Gap restructures to align as global business

By

Florent Gilles

Published
Oct 18, 2012

Only a few months after announcing the inauguration of former H&M boss, Stefan Larsson, as global president at Old Navy (effective since this October), Gap Inc has said it will be applying these changes across the group. Until now, the Californian retail giant has organised business activity not only by regions (America or International), but also by distribution channels (online, outlet or franchise). “The global teams will move even faster in anticipating and responding to the ever-evolving needs of customers, delivering consistently great products around the world,” said Glenn Murphy, CEO of Gap Inc. He also added that this new strategy has “the goal of gaining market share around the world and enhancing shareholder value.”

From 5th November, each brand within the group will see their divisions (regional areas and distribution channels) headed by a single global executive. In addition to this, the company will form a new team catering for digital strategy, innovation and the group’s new brands division which includes Piperlime and Athleta.

Art Peck, currently president of Gap North America, will take the reins of this new team. At Banana Republic, Jack Calhoun will take over as global president, after having spent already some time with the brand as president of their North American division.

As for Gap, current international president Steve Sunnucks is set to become global president and will be based in New York. The new structure of the group will see Tony Len, president of the online division, leave the company in February 2013 to focus on his entrepreneurial career.

Gap Inc’s previous initiative was to enhance the style of Gap by recruiting Rebekkah Bay, the Swedish designer who launced H&M’s brand COS. The designer, however, will not be reporting to Art Peck (head of digital strategy, innovation and new brands) but instead to Steve Sunnucks who will now be at the top of the company. Glenn Murphy, CEO of the group, will oversee the management of Gap in Asia.