The US clothing group Gap Inc. has found a new manager for its sportswear brand Athleta. On Monday, the company announced the appointment of Chris Blakeslee as the label’s President and CEO.
According to the company, Blakeslee will take up the post on August 7th. At the helm of Athleta, he succeeds Mary Beth Laughton, who had to leave in March due to the recent unsatisfactory business development. Another key role at the brand had already been filled in May with the appointment of Julia Leach as Chief Creative Officer.
Blakeslee has relevant experience in the apparel industry. For the past five years, he has been President of the Alo Yoga and Bella+Canvas brands belonging to the Color Image Apparel textile group. Prior to that, he had held management positions in companies across a variety of industries throughout his career.
Commenting on the recruitment decision, Gap Inc. executive chairman and interim CEO Bob Martin said, “Chris is known for combining creativity and operational discipline to improve the results of high-growth companies,” he said in a statement. Thanks to his skills, the designated Athleta boss is “well suited to lead the brand to long-term, sustainable growth based on offering high-quality performance products and a rich omnichannel shopping experience,” says Martin.