Banana Republic Lands CEO Amid PVH Leadership Revamp

Brands

Gap Inc.

America’s largest specialty apparel company, Gap Inc., has named Donald Kohler, based in San Francisco, as global brand president and CEO of Banana Republic, effective July. With over 30 years of experience in luxury retail, Kohler will guide Banana Republic as it elevates its modern explorer lifestyle brand.

Kohler joins from PVH Corp., currently serving as CEO, PVH Americas, to oversee Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger as well as the company’s regional retail, e-commerce, wholesale and licensing businesses. Before that, he previously held senior leadership roles at Burberry, Ferragamo and Diesel. Earlier in his career, Kohler spent more than a decade at Gap Inc. in merchandising leadership roles across the Gap, GapKids and babyGap brands.

PVH Corp.

Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger owner PVH Corp. announced three new appointments, including two internal promotions, to the company’s executive leadership team.

Adelyn Cheong has been promoted to chief executive officer of PVH Americas, overseeing the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands across the Americas. Cheong will succeed Donald Kohler, who currently serves as CEO of PVH Americas. Jonathan Bottomley, Calvin Klein’s global chief marketing officer, will expand his responsibilities to also serve as executive vice president, group consumer and brand strategy, of PVH Corp. Joel Samaha will join PVH in the newly created role of president of global licensing, partnerships and expansion.

Caleres

Footwear group Caleres has named Dan Karpel senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately. Following an earlier tenure at the company, Karpel returned to Caleres in October as chief accounting officer, and since January, he had been serving as interim chief financial officer. With this appointment, he will be heading up finance and accounting for the Sam Edelman and Stuart Weitzman parent company.  

Karpel has three decades of experience in accounting and finance across a number of industries, with past roles at Club Car Wash Operating, LLC; CW Holdings, LLC; Eyecare Partners LLC; Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and Brown Shoe Company.

Textiles

Carbios

French biotech firm Carbios, which is developing plastic-eating enzymes, announced an evolution in its governance. After expressing his intent to retire, Vincent Kamel will step down as chief executive officer, effective May 31. The board of directors has appointed Benoît Grenot as CEO of Carbios, effective June 1.

Technology

Lectra

French technology firm Lectra appointed Christophe Gégout and Fiorangelo Salvatorelli to the board of directors for a four-year term. Gégout has been a founding partner and CEO of Yotta Capital Partners since December 2020. Before co-founding Yotta, he was chief investment officer at Meridiam, overseeing investments in SMEs and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Salvatorelli, managing director and technology lead at Alantra EQMC Asset Management, brings deep technology expertise and the EQMC Fund’s constructive investment approach to support sustainable growth and long-term value creation for listed European small- and mid-cap companies.