Gap Inc. Appoints Maggie Gauger as Athleta President and Chief Executive Officer
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) has appointed Maggie Gauger as the new Global Brand President and CEO of Athleta, effective August 1, 2025. Gauger brings over 20 years of experience from Nike, where she most recently led the North America Women's Business.
The appointment comes as current CEO Chris Blakeslee steps down, though he will remain as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition. Gauger's extensive background spans retail, strategy, merchandising, product creation, commerce, digital, and general management, both domestically and globally.
The leadership change aims to accelerate Athleta's reinvigoration and capitalize on its potential in the women's active market within Gap's portfolio.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) ha nominato Maggie Gauger come nuova Presidente Globale del Marchio e CEO di Athleta, con effetto dal 1° agosto 2025. Gauger vanta oltre 20 anni di esperienza presso Nike, dove ha recentemente guidato il settore Women's Business per il Nord America.
La nomina avviene mentre l'attuale CEO Chris Blakeslee si dimette, pur restando come consulente per garantire una transizione fluida. Il vasto background di Gauger comprende retail, strategia, merchandising, creazione di prodotto, commercio, digitale e gestione generale, sia a livello nazionale che globale.
Questo cambio di leadership mira ad accelerare il rilancio di Athleta e a sfruttare il suo potenziale nel mercato activewear femminile all’interno del portafoglio di Gap.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) ha nombrado a Maggie Gauger como la nueva Presidenta Global de Marca y CEO de Athleta, con efecto a partir del 1 de agosto de 2025. Gauger aporta más de 20 años de experiencia en Nike, donde recientemente lideró el negocio femenino en Norteamérica.
Este nombramiento se produce cuando el actual CEO, Chris Blakeslee, renuncia, aunque permanecerá como asesor para asegurar una transición sin contratiempos. La amplia experiencia de Gauger abarca retail, estrategia, merchandising, creación de productos, comercio, digital y gestión general, tanto a nivel nacional como global.
El cambio de liderazgo tiene como objetivo acelerar la revitalización de Athleta y aprovechar su potencial en el mercado femenino de ropa deportiva dentro del portafolio de Gap.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP)는 2025년 8월 1일부로 Athleta의 새로운 글로벌 브랜드 사장 겸 CEO로 Maggie Gauger를 임명했습니다. Gauger는 Nike에서 20년 이상의 경력을 보유하고 있으며, 최근에는 북미 여성 비즈니스를 이끌었습니다.
이번 임명은 현 CEO인 Chris Blakeslee가 물러나면서 이루어진 것으로, 그는 원활한 인수인계를 위해 고문으로 남을 예정입니다. Gauger의 폭넓은 경력은 소매, 전략, 상품기획, 제품 개발, 상거래, 디지털 및 전반적인 경영을 국내외에서 아우릅니다.
이번 리더십 변화는 Athleta의 재도약을 가속화하고 Gap 포트폴리오 내 여성 액티브웨어 시장에서의 잠재력을 극대화하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) a nommé Maggie Gauger nouvelle Présidente mondiale de la marque et CEO d’Athleta, à compter du 1er août 2025. Gauger apporte plus de 20 ans d’expérience chez Nike, où elle a récemment dirigé l’activité féminine en Amérique du Nord.
Cette nomination intervient alors que l’actuel CEO, Chris Blakeslee, quitte ses fonctions, mais restera conseiller pour assurer une transition en douceur. L’expérience approfondie de Gauger couvre la vente au détail, la stratégie, le merchandising, la création de produits, le commerce, le digital et la gestion générale, tant au niveau national qu’international.
Ce changement de direction vise à accélérer la revitalisation d’Athleta et à exploiter son potentiel sur le marché du sport féminin au sein du portefeuille de Gap.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) hat Maggie Gauger als neue Global Brand President und CEO von Athleta mit Wirkung zum 1. August 2025 ernannt. Gauger bringt über 20 Jahre Erfahrung von Nike mit, wo sie zuletzt das Nordamerika-Frauen-Geschäft leitete.
Die Ernennung erfolgt, während der aktuelle CEO Chris Blakeslee zurücktritt, der jedoch als Berater für einen reibungslosen Übergang zur Verfügung steht. Gaugers umfangreicher Hintergrund umfasst Einzelhandel, Strategie, Merchandising, Produktentwicklung, Handel, Digitales und allgemeines Management, sowohl national als auch global.
Der Führungswechsel soll die Wiederbelebung von Athleta beschleunigen und das Potenzial im Damen-Aktivmarkt im Portfolio von Gap nutzen.
- Appointment of experienced leader with 20+ years at Nike in women's active sport
- New CEO brings proven track record in business transformation and consumer centricity
- Strategic focus on growing women's active market potential
- Continuity ensured with previous CEO staying as advisor for transition
- Leadership change indicates potential challenges in Athleta's current performance
- Brand requires 'reinvigoration' suggesting recent underperformance
Gauger Brings Three Decades of Successful Leadership in Women's Active Apparel
"As we continue to reinvigorate our house of iconic American brands to not only shape culture but drive profitable, sustainable growth over the long term, we believe in Athleta's incredible potential in the women's active market and within our portfolio," said Gap Inc. CEO Richard Dickson. "Over the past two years, Chris has led the early stages of Athleta's reset, recentering the brand to win with innovative performance product and refining the brand's point of view, helping to position Athleta for the future."
Dickson continued, "We are thrilled for Maggie Gauger to join as CEO of Athleta as we look to accelerate the brand's reinvigoration. Maggie blends proven business transformation capabilities, deep consumer centricity, product fluency, and a heartfelt commitment to empowering women and girls. This combination of skills and experiences will equip her to lead Athleta into its next chapter of growth - rooted in purpose, performance, and people."
Gauger, a proven leader in women's active sport and style, comes to Athleta with more than 20 years of experience in key leadership roles at Nike, most recently serving as the head of its North America Women's Business, where she was responsible for driving growth, brand love, and customer affinity and acquisition within the large active and athleisure market. Her extensive background across retail, strategy, merchandising, product creation, commerce, digital, and general management - both domestically and globally - are critical assets to the future growth of Athleta.
"I'm energized to bring my experience working at the intersection of sport, style and culture to Athleta - a brand with strong purpose and still so much untapped potential," said Maggie Gauger. "Athleta has an unwavering mission focused on the power of women - not just as athletes, but as leaders, creators, and change-makers. And I can't wait to work with the incredible Athleta team to grow, to lead, and to inspire the next generation through the power of product and community."
As Gauger transitions into her role, Blakeslee will remain with the company as an advisor to support a smooth transition.
For further information, please contact:
press@gap.com
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc., a purpose-driven house of iconic brands, is the largest specialty apparel company in America. Its Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands offer clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products for men, women and children available worldwide through company-operated and franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Since 1969, Gap Inc. has created products and experiences that shape culture, while doing right by employees, communities and the planet through its commitment to bridge gaps to create a better world. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
About Athleta
A certified B Corporation, Athleta is a premium performance lifestyle brand with a purpose of inspiring and empowering women and girls to find confidence, strength, and wellbeing through movement. Athleta's versatile performance apparel is designed for women by women, with inclusivity at its core. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features into their products to support women across their entire lifestyle—from yoga and training to travel and recovery. In 2016, the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in
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SOURCE Gap Inc.
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