Gap Inc. has named Richard Dickson as its new President and CEO, effective Aug. 22, 2023. Dickson will replace Board Chair Bob Martin, who has been serving as Interim CEO since the July 2022 departure of then-President and CEO Sonia Syngal. Earlier this week, the retailer named Chris Blakeslee President and CEO of its Athleta brand.
Dickson comes to Gap from Mattel, where he served as President and COO and was a lead architect of the global corporate transformation that has revitalized iconic brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price. Under his leadership the company developed and launched the Mattel Playbook, a brand-building approach that has helped accelerate the company’s transformation.
Prior to Mattel, Dickson was President and CEO of Branded Businesses for The Jones Group, where he led global design and development, including marketing and merchandising, wholesale, retail and ecommerce. Dickson also co-founded online high-end cosmetics retailer Gloss.com and served as an executive at Bloomingdale’s.
“Gap Inc. is a portfolio of iconic brands, known for having defined American style with bold thinking and making quality fashion accessible to millions,” said Dickson in a statement. “But it’s the work ahead that excites me most — the chance to work hand in hand with the teams to evolve Gap Inc. for a new era.”
Martin, who will remain Board Chair and ensure a smooth transition, said in a statement that “Amidst a deliberate and thoughtful search process, it became clear that Richard is destined for this role at this moment. His experience as a proven transformational brand builder and belief in the power of inclusivity make him a perfect fit for Gap Inc.”
