Muto named president of Ann Taylor LOFT

NEW YORK AnnTaylor Stores has announced the appointment of Gary Muto to the position of president for Ann Taylor LOFT, effective Nov. 11. Muto, a seasoned retail executive with more than 25 years of experience, will lead all aspects of the company's LOFT division and report directly to Kay Krill, president and ceo of the company.

"I am thrilled to welcome Gary to Ann Taylor as president of LOFT," stated Krill. "Selecting the right leader for our largest division has been a critical area of focus for me and the search process was very comprehensive. I am delighted that Gary is joining the company and confident that his extensive retail experience and strong leadership qualities will add significant value to not only the LOFT division, but also the entire Ann Taylor leadership team."

Muto joins Ann Taylor from Gap, where he served in various leadership roles over the past two decades, most recently as president of Gap Adult & GapBody. Prior to that, he held the positions of president of Banana Republic, president of Gap N.A. and president of Forth & Towne.

"I am extremely pleased to be joining Ann Taylor and honored to be given stewardship of the LOFT division," stated Muto. "I look forward to working with the entire team to meet the changing needs of LOFT clients, while evolving the positioning of the brand for long-term success."