The former PVH executive will lead the retailer’s next chapter as it sharpens its “modern explorer” identity
Banana Republic has appointed Donald Kohler as global brand president and chief executive officer, filling a role that has remained vacant since Sandra Stangl’s departure two years ago. Kohler will officially join the Gap Inc.-owned brand in July, arriving at a moment when Banana Republic is attempting to strengthen its positioning through elevated product, travel-focused storytelling, and renewed attention to heritage.
Kohler most recently served as CEO of PVH Americas, overseeing Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger across retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and licensing operations. Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions at Burberry, Ferragamo, and Diesel, and earlier spent more than a decade at Gap Inc. working across Gap, GapKids, and babyGap merchandising.
“Returning to Gap Inc. is deeply meaningful for me,” Kohler said in a statement.
Banana Republic has extraordinary heritage and a powerful opportunity to inspire today’s consumer through elevated product, immersive storytelling and a cohesive customer journey.”
The appointment comes as Banana Republic continues efforts to redefine itself around what the company describes as the “modern explorer.” The retailer has increasingly leaned into narratives tied to travel, utility, and archival Americana, while reworking familiar silhouettes from its past into more contemporary assortments.
Under Gap Inc. CEO Richard Dickson, the brand has shown early signs of stabilization. Banana Republic reported three consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth, with fourth-quarter comparable sales rising 4 percent and full-year comparable sales increasing 3 percent despite a slight decline in total annual revenue.
“Donald began his career in product at Gap brand, where he developed his instincts for great design, impactful merchandising and powerful storytelling,” Dickson said. “That rare combination of operational excellence and brand building positions him well to lead Banana Republic’s next chapter.”
Recent initiatives have included collaborations designed to reconnect the brand with culture and entertainment. In 2025, Banana Republic launched a capsule inspired by HBO’s The White Lotus, followed by an ongoing partnership with The Explorers Club that revisited archival styles from the 1970s through the 1990s. The company also introduced Banana Republic Archive and acquired Abandoned Republic, a digital collection of vintage catalogues and memorabilia tied to the brand’s history.
The leadership appointment also aligns with broader efforts across Gap Inc. to deepen ties to storytelling and entertainment. Earlier this month, the company appointed former Paramount executive Lourdes Arocho as senior vice president and head of licensing, reporting to chief entertainment officer Pam Kaufman.
Founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler as a safari-inspired catalogue business, Banana Republic was acquired by Gap Inc. in 1983 and has since undergone multiple repositionings as it navigated shifts in American retail and changing consumer tastes.