Disney Ex-Exec to Head Gap’s Namesake Brand

Gap Inc., the largest U.S. clothing chain, said Monday that it had promoted former Walt Disney Co. executive Cynthia Harriss to president of its namesake brand to fill a high-profile position that had been vacant since September.

Harriss, 53, joined the company 14 months ago as president of its outlet division. She will oversee all aspects of the Gap brand in North America starting May 2, San Francisco-based Gap said in a statement.

Before joining Gap, she was president of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and was also senior vice president of stores for the Disney Store.

Harriss is one of several Disney veterans to join Gap since Paul Pressler, former head of Disney’s theme parks, was named chief executive of the clothing retailer in 2002.

Byron Pollitt, Gap’s chief financial officer, also worked for Pressler at Disney before going to Gap in 2003.

Harriss will take charge of revamping sales at the Gap unit, whose sales at stores open at least a year have declined six of the last seven months. Gap, which also owns the Banana Republic and Old Navy chains, is targeting women 35 and older later this year with a new chain.

Harriss succeeds Gary Muto, who has headed the 35-and-older chain since September. It will be Gap’s first new chain since it introduced Old Navy in 1994. Diane Neal, the outlet unit’s senior vice president of merchandising, will succeed Harriss.

Harriss will report to Pressler.

Shares of Gap fell 8 cents to $20.94 on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Bloomberg News and Reuters were used in compiling this report.