Gap interim CEO Robert Fisher says the company "almost tried to institutionalize creativity" and promises to rely less on focus groups and consumer research in his bid to turn around the ailing
retailer. Fisher says he will examine whether the Gap has too many management layers at HQ. He also says the apparel retailer will return more decision-making power to the leaders of the Gap, Old Navy
and Banana Republic brands.
Fisher also has to grapple with long-standing problems at the brands, which are now so large they can't be too trendy -- or they might not appeal to enough
customers to support its store base. But in trying to win a wide audience, it often stands for no particular style.
Fisher, 52, began working at Gap as a store manager in 1980, and has
been a Gap director since 1990 and chairman since 2004. His parents, Donald and Doris Fisher, founded Gap in 1969. He reiterated that he doesn't intend to be a candidate for the permanent CEO job. Gap
said yesterday that it had retained search firm Egon Zehnder International to help choose a new CEO.
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