Corporate Governance

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Mark Breitbard.     Gap Inc. on Tuesday named Breitbard as president and CEO of its struggling Banana Republic division.       Breitbard served as CEO at The Gymboree Corporation from 2013 until he stepped down in early 2017. From 2010 to 2013, he held leadership positions across Gap North America, where he was instrumental in delivering the product-led resurgence of Gap’s North America business.    

Under Armour named Clay Dean as its chief innovation officer.   Dean will be responsible for driving the company's global vision and strategy for innovation, and cross-functional collaboration with the brand’s internal design, marketing, product, and category management teams. He will be based out of Under Armour's global headquarters in Baltimore, and will report to Kevin Haley, president, category management and innovation.  

Vow To Be Chic is giving shoppers access to a new line of designer bridesmaids' dresses.   The two-year-old start-up, which allows women to shop for bridesmaids’ gowns via their desktop, laptop or smartphone, will add six of the best-selling gowns from Amsale's Nouvelle Amsale line. The partnership marks the designer’s debut in the gown rental segment.   

Albertsons on Friday appointed Jonathan Mayes to the post of senior VP external affairs and chief diversity officer. In his new role, he will head up the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as its government relationships, philanthropy and sustainability departments.   

Gander Mountain has filed for bankruptcy, but it is proactively seeking a buyer.    The sporting goods retailer, which announced Friday, March 10 that it has filed for Chapter 11 protection, said it will pursue a “going concerns sale,” enabling it to function without the threat of liquidation for the foreseeable future.   

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Accenture on Monday announced the launch of a new initiative that will explore the impact that technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality will have on the retail industry.   RILA’s new (R)Tech Center for Innovation will also help retailers create innovative ways of doing business.  

Malls and shopping centers are not endangered, but evolving species, International Council of Shopping Centers CEO Thomas McGee told the Miami Herald this week.   “There is stress in the department store segment and closures. When you look at those stores as a percentage of retail square footage, it’s small,” McGee said in a wide-ranging interview with the paper. “But those spaces are big and prominent and they need to be handled in a systematic way.”  

Shoptalk has announced a partnership with the Retail Industry Leaders Association focused on RILA’s newly launched (R)Tech Center for Innovation.   Through the partnership, Shoptalk will support the (R)Tech Center for Innovation as a member of the (R)Tech Innovators Network.