Bold Moves – Gap, Levi Strauss, Puma, Adidas, British Fashion Council


Richard Dickson

Richard Dickson Appointed To Gap Inc. Board Of Directors

Gap Inc. announced that Richard Dickson has been elected to the Gap Inc. Board of Directors. Dickson serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel, a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. He is a member of the Board of Directors at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and the Board of Advisors for The Robert H. Smith School of Business at The University of Maryland.   

Recognized for reinvigorating legacy brands, Dickson has deep experience across the fashion, beauty, toy, and consumer products industries.  Throughout his career Dickson has used consumer insights and cultural trends to find the right place for brands to regain authenticity, drive fan engagement and ultimately sales momentum.    

At Mattel, Dickson leads a portfolio of global brands, overseeing innovation strategy, design and development, brand marketing and franchise management. Under his leadership, the company developed and launched the Mattel Playbook, a brand-building approach that has been instrumental in driving the turnaround and growth of Mattel’s power brands, including Barbie and Hot Wheels.  

Prior to Mattel, Dickson was President and CEO of Branded Businesses for The Jones Group fashion brands, where he led global design and development, including marketing and merchandising, wholesale, retail, and E-Commerce, brought new life 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.  

“Richard’s many years of experience growing, acquiring and reinvigorating well-known brands will add valuable perspective to the board as we look to strengthen Gap Inc’s purpose-led portfolio and return our brands to consistent, sustainable growth,” said Bobby Martin, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, Gap Inc.   

“I am thrilled to have a role in writing the next chapter of Gap Inc. as a member of its board of directors and to play a part in unlocking the tremendous potential in their portfolio of iconic brands,” added Dickson.

Michelle Gass

Levi Strauss & Co. Appoints Michelle Gass as President

Levi Strauss & Co. announced leadership changes in its executive team with the appointment of Michelle Gass to the new position of president, LS&Co., reporting to Chip Bergh, president & CEO. Gass will be responsible for leading the Levi’s® brand and the company’s global digital and commercial operations. With this announcement, the board of directors has put in motion a succession plan for Gass to succeed Bergh as CEO within the next 18 months. Gass will begin her role with the company on January 2 and is expected to join the LS&Co. Board of Directors on her start date.

“We are delighted that an executive with Michelle’s background, experience and stature is joining as president to work side-by-side with Chip for a meaningful transition period before becoming CEO,” said Bob Eckert, chairman of the LS&Co. Board of Directors. “Michelle’s deep retail and omni-channel experience combined with her track record of building brands and meaningful innovation is a perfect fit for the skills needed to lead this company for the long term and create significant value for our stakeholders.”

Gass brings exceptional direct-to-consumer experience to LS&Co., having led the transformation strategy at Kohl’s to position the company for long-term profitable growth. She has driven a significant reinvention effort for more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores, while growing the digital business at a double-digit compounded annual growth rate to more than $6 billion. She has also led a number of strategic innovations at Kohl’s, including the introduction of Amazon returns and spearheading the long-term strategic partnership with Sephora, which has expanded to 600 Sephora at Kohl’s shops.

“One of my biggest legacies at LS&Co. will be my successor, passing the baton to someone who will take the company to the next level. I am thrilled not just about Michelle being my successor, but also about having the chance to work closely together during the transition,” Bergh said. “I have known Michelle for a decade, and she has many of the qualities we value in our leaders: she is humble, approachable, transparent and driven by purpose and values. She has a track record of building brands and talent. Michelle also brings more than 25 years of retail and omni-channel experience, along with a demonstrated track record of innovation, driving transformational ‘big ideas’ not just on products but also business models. With this move, I am even more confident in this company’s future.”

“I am thrilled to join Levi Strauss & Co., with its iconic brands, incredible team and unwavering commitment to corporate citizenship,” Gass said. “With the Levi’s® brand stronger than ever, Dockers® reinvigorated and the Beyond Yoga® acquisition expanding the company’s addressable market, I look forward to working alongside Chip and his talented team to realize the incredible potential for the business in the years to come.”

Arne Freundt

Puma Appoints Arne Freundt CEO

The Supervisory Board of PUMA SE appointed Arne Freundt as chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the Company.

He is receiving a contract for four years, effective January 1, 2023. Arne Freundt has worked for PUMA for more than ten years and has been a member of the Management Board as Chief Commercial Officer since June 2021. Bjørn Gulden’s mandate as member of the Management Board of PUMA SE expires at the end of 2022. 

Arne has been with PUMA since 2012. Prior to his role as PUMA’s CEO, he was responsible for Corporate Strategy, the Global Direct-to-Consumer business and the Region EMEA as a General Manager before he became a member of the Board as Chief Commercial Officer in 2021. Prior to PUMA, Arne worked for Siemens Advanta Consulting.  

Bjørn Gulden

Bjørn Gulden To Become CEO Of Adidas AG

The Supervisory Board of adidas AG resolved upon the succession for adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted. Effective January 1, 2023, Bjørn Gulden is appointed as member of the Executive Board and CEO of adidas AG. Kasper Rorsted and the Supervisory Board mutually agreed that he will step down as CEO and leave the company upon expiry of November 11, 2022. Harm Ohlmeyer, Chief Financial Officer of adidas AG, will lead the company in the interim until December 31, 2022. The Supervisory Board had announced a CEO transition on August 22, 2022.

Bjørn Gulden is 57 years old, Norwegian and has been CEO of Puma SE since 2013. Bjørn Gulden looks back at a tenure at adidas as, amongst others, Senior Vice President of Apparel and Accessories from 1992 to 1999. Additionally, he was CEO of Danish jewelry brand Pandora, Managing Director of Europe’s largest footwear retailer Deichmann, President of Rack Room Shoes, and held various management positions at outdoor apparel company Helly Hansen. He also holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Salling Group, Denmark’s largest food retailer.

Bjørn Gulden was a professional football and handball player. He played football for 1. FC Nürnberg in the German 2. Bundesliga, and for Bryne and Strømsgodset in the Norwegian Premier League and handball for Haslum in Norway’s first league.

“We are very pleased to welcome Bjørn Gulden back at adidas. Bjørn Gulden brings almost 30 years of experience in the sporting goods and footwear industry. As a result, he knows the industry extremely well and draws on a rich network in sport and retail. Bjørn Gulden already served adidas successfully for seven years in the 1990s. As CEO of Puma, he re-invigorated the brand and led the company to record results. The Supervisory Board of adidas AG is convinced that Bjørn Gulden will head adidas into a new era of strength and is looking very much forward to a successful cooperation,” said Thomas Rabe, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of adidas AG. 

In addition, on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, Thomas Rabe thanked outgoing CEO Kasper Rorsted: “We would like to thank Kasper Rorsted for his major achievements at adidas. He strategically repositioned the company and fast-forwarded its digital transformation. In North America, the world’s largest sporting goods market, adidas has doubled its sales. In addition, adidas has strengthened its leadership position in sustainability and increased diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the company. Following the successful divestiture of TaylorMade, CCM Hockey and Reebok the company is now able to focus its efforts on its core brand adidas. We wish Kasper Rorsted all the best for his future endeavors.”

British Fashion Council Announced Executive Board Appointments

The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced new appointments to its Board of Directors to broaden expertise on the board as the organisation re-sets its strategy to focus support for creative businesses and support for the industry.  The UK’s Fashion Industry is world renowned, exercises significant soft power, delivers economic and social benefits, is integral to personal expression and is at the intersection of Creative Industries across the UK.  The Board sees the opportunity to further support the fashion industry to sustainably grow and the UK’s designer businesses from emerging talent to designer brands to continue to creatively lead.  However, as it faces sustainability challenges, a cost-of-living crisis, increased costs, and economic instability due to war in Ukraine, the need to bring the industry closer to share expertise and support Creative Businesses tackle these challenges is required.

The new non-executive director appointments are Caroline Issa, Chief Executive and Fashion Director of Tank and Editor of online magazine Because, who is also part of BFC Press Committee, Ciara Byrne, Vice President of New Business Innovation Condé Nast and Lynda Petherick, Head of Retail for Accenture in the UK and Ireland join the BFC Executive Board, effective immediately. They will join existing members David Pemsel, Chair; Caroline Rush, Chief Executive; Laura Strain, Chief Operating Officer, Jamie Gill, June Sarpong, Scott Morrison and Sian Westerman, BFC Non-Executive Directors and Justine Simons, Board Observer.  The Board is also supported by a global mix of voluntary Ambassadors, Committees and Advisors who provide advice and guidance across multiple divisions.  

David Pemsel, Chair of the Board said “The BFC has a dynamic Board, the new appointments have been made to bolster support for Caroline and team while collectively honing the strategy to be laser focused to support creative, innovative and sustainable businesses to thrive through the challenges that lie ahead and increase opportunity to knowledge share”. 

The BFC seeks to implement solutions that not only drive positive change for designer businesses, but opportunities for its broader network and the communities that it serves. To ensure the BFC can review, reframe and reset for the future, each of the board members will be focused on key specific areas accordant to their expertise. 

Caroline Issa, BFC Non-Executive Director said: “I am very much looking forward to working with the rest of the Board to help support the BFC in amplifying the incredibly talented and diverse voices of the British fashion industry. British designers and entrepreneurs are known the world over for their originality and creativity, and it is an honour to contribute more formally towards helping the BFC achieve their ambitious goals”. 

Ciara Byrne, BFC Non-Executive Director said: “I’m thrilled to join the board of the British Fashion Council, among some of the UK’s leading fashion, creative and business experts. It has never been more important to support our local creative and design industries in tackling pressing issues such as climate change and economic uncertainty and I look forward to being a part of the work that the BFC does to advance this”.

Lynda Petherick, BFC Non-Executive Director, said: “Now more than ever, we must take bold action to minimise our impact on the planet. By working closely with a wide range of leaders across the industry, we can embed sustainability into everything we do and drive new levels of value as a result”.

Zak Mian

The John Lewis Partnership Appointed Zak Mian Chief Transformation & Technology Officer

The John Lewis Partnership announced the appointment of Zak Mian as Chief Transformation & Technology Officer.  

This is the Partnership’s first Executive Level appointment focused solely on transformation and technology and further strengthens our transformation capability as we continue to deliver our five-year Partnership Plan.

Zak joins the Partnership on 7 November 2022 and will take responsibility for all of our technology, change and transformation activity and the teams who support it. 

Zak has more than thirty years’ experience of leading business transformation and technology teams, and was most recently the Group Transformation Director at Lloyds Banking Group where he led the digital transformation of the bank. 

Sharon White, Partner & Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “I’m delighted that Zak is joining the Partnership. He brings a wealth of experience and an impressive background in business transformation and has a strong sense of purpose, which make him a great fit for the Partnership.”

Zak said: “I’ve admired the Partnership and its purpose for a long time so I’m delighted to be joining. I’m really looking forward to helping shape an environment in which Partners can do their best work, enable the transformation of our business through technology and deliver great experiences for our customers.”

Tricia Carey

Tricia Carey joins Renewcell as Chief Commercial Officer

Renewcell strengthens its commercial team with the addition of Tricia Carey as Chief Commercial Officer. Mrs. Carey is a seasoned fashion industry executive with more than 25 years of experience promoting more circular and more sustainable materials within fashion. She has also been a catalyst for the industry-wide conversation around the shift to more climate-friendly and resource-efficient materials as a board member at Textile Exchange and Accelerating Circularity. Prior to joining Renewcell, Mrs. Carey held the position of Director of Global Business Development at the leading Austrian fiber producer Lenzing.

“Now is the time for the fashion industry to seriously address the issue of textile and apparel waste.  Renewcell provides recycling solutions at scale, and is first to market with a truly circular material, Circulose®, that has the potential to transform an industry that desperately needs it. I am excited to join the energetic and dynamic team at Renewcell as we develop collaborations to accelerate making fashion circular.” says Tricia Carey, Renewcell’s new Chief Commercial Officer.

With New York City as her base, Mrs. Carey will develop Renewcell’s strategic partnerships with major fashion brands eager to make fashion circular at scale.

“I am happy to have Tricia join Renewcell’s leadership team. She will bring invaluable marketing experience, a stellar network, and a proven capacity to deliver on ambitious growth objectives. Tricia brings particular value in driving our growth ambitions among North American brands and manufacturers.” comments Patrik Lundström, CEO of Renewcell.