Abercrombie & Fitch CEO to receive NRF 'Visionary' honor
The National Retail Federation has announced the next recipient of its annual Visionary award.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. CEO Fran Horowitz will receive The Visionary 2026 award at the 11th annual NRF Foundation Honors on Jan. 11, 2026 in New York City. Horowitz will also participate in a fireside chat with NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay on Jan. 12 at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show.
With more than 30 years of retail experience, Horowitz has served as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. since 2017. She joined the apparel company in 2014 as president of its Hollister brand and was promoted to president and chief merchandising officer for Abercrombie & Fitch Co. in 2015.
Prior to joining the company, Horowitz served as brand president at Ann Taylor Loft, executive VP at Express, Inc. She also held merchandising roles at Bloomingdales.
“Fran Horowitz recognizes the value of building authentic, customer-centric retail brands – a vision that has transformed Abercrombie & Fitch Co.,” said Shay. “Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister remain iconic names at the heart of retail, and under Fran’s leadership and direction, the company continues to grow and thrive. We’re proud to honor her as this year’s Visionary.”
The NRF added that the success of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. under Horowitz can be attributed to an “increased focus on listening to its customers, resulting in compelling product and engaging brand experiences that resonate around the world.”
Previous recipients of The Visionary award include Tommy Hilfiger founder and principal designer Tommy Hilfiger, Dick’s Sporting Goods executive chairman Ed Stack, Lowe's chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison, Target Corp. board chairman and CEO Brian Cornell, and more.
[READ MORE: Abercrombie & Fitch posts strong quarter fueled by Hollister; raises outlook]
“Our incredible team at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has executed one of the most successful turnarounds in retail, and leading this work has been the highlight of my career,” said Horowitz. “From our iconic global brands, to our operating model, to our company’s culture, we’ve reexamined and rebuilt every aspect of our business, all while leading with purpose and keeping our customer at the center of every decision. I’m beyond proud of our global team for all they do to drive our business forward and it is an honor for NRF to recognize A&F Co.’s remarkable achievements.”
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates approximately 810 stores under its brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
