Gymboree names retail veteran as CEO
Gymboree Corp. has tapped the former chief of Tilly’s executive as the children’s clothing retailer’s new CEO.
Gymboree announced the appointment of Daniel Griesemer as its new president and CEO, effective May 22, 2017. Griesemer joins the struggling children's wear chain after a five-year tenure leading Tilly's, an action sports-inspired teen apparel retailer where he served as president and CEO. He left Tilly’s in October. At Gymboree, Griesemer succeeds interim CEO Mark Weikel, who will continue as a member of the board.
"Dan's proven leadership in the specialty-store sector, combined with his operational and financial experience, make him an ideal person to lead Gymboree into the future as the team works to establish a sustainable capital structure and position the company for long-term success,” said Lew Klessel, a member of the board of directors, Gymboree, which operates 1,281 stores under several banners. “We would also like to thank Mark for his contributions as Interim CEO and to the search for a permanent leader for Gymboree."
Prior to Tilly's, Griesemer served as president and CEO at Coldwater Creek, a women's clothier, and held executive leadership positions at Gap Inc., GapKids and Gap Inc. International division. Griesemer began his career with Macy's Stores.
In January 2017, Gymboree CEO Mark Breitbard said he was stepping down from the retailer, which has struggling with slumping sales and is challenged with debt due in February 2018. In March, Breitbard was named president and CEO of another struggling retailer: Banana Republic.
Gymboree announced the appointment of Daniel Griesemer as its new president and CEO, effective May 22, 2017. Griesemer joins the struggling children's wear chain after a five-year tenure leading Tilly's, an action sports-inspired teen apparel retailer where he served as president and CEO. He left Tilly’s in October. At Gymboree, Griesemer succeeds interim CEO Mark Weikel, who will continue as a member of the board.
"Dan's proven leadership in the specialty-store sector, combined with his operational and financial experience, make him an ideal person to lead Gymboree into the future as the team works to establish a sustainable capital structure and position the company for long-term success,” said Lew Klessel, a member of the board of directors, Gymboree, which operates 1,281 stores under several banners. “We would also like to thank Mark for his contributions as Interim CEO and to the search for a permanent leader for Gymboree."
Prior to Tilly's, Griesemer served as president and CEO at Coldwater Creek, a women's clothier, and held executive leadership positions at Gap Inc., GapKids and Gap Inc. International division. Griesemer began his career with Macy's Stores.
In January 2017, Gymboree CEO Mark Breitbard said he was stepping down from the retailer, which has struggling with slumping sales and is challenged with debt due in February 2018. In March, Breitbard was named president and CEO of another struggling retailer: Banana Republic.