Richard Dickson
President and chief executive of Gap Inc.
Richard Dickson is the president and chief executive of Gap Inc., the largest specialty apparel retailer in the United States, a role he has held since August 2023. Best known for reviving Barbie at Mattel, he is leading a turnaround built on cultural relevance and storytelling across Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta.
| Role | President and CEO |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Gap Inc. |
| Since | August 2023 |
| Previous role | President and COO of Mattel (2015 to 2023) |
| Brands | Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta |
Who is Richard Dickson?
Richard Dickson is president and chief executive officer of Gap Inc., which owns Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta and reports more than 15 billion dollars in annual revenue. He took over in August 2023, after a period in which the company had cycled through several chief executives in a short time. He had joined Gap Inc.'s board of directors in 2022.
Career
Dickson studied at the University of Maryland and completed an executive programme at UCLA Anderson School of Management. Early in his career he held executive roles at Bloomingdale's and co-founded Gloss.com, which was acquired by Estee Lauder in 2000.
From 2010 to 2014 he was president and CEO of the branded businesses portfolio of The Jones Group. He then returned to Mattel, becoming chief brands officer in 2014 and president and chief operating officer from 2015 to 2023. At Mattel he led a turnaround of brands such as Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, and he served as an executive producer of the 2023 Barbie film.
Influence on the fashion business
At Gap Inc., Dickson has applied the brand management approach he developed at Mattel. His view, as reported by Fortune, is that a brand cannot sell its way out of irrelevance. He has said: "We had great storytelling and brands, but somewhere along the way, we lost the story and became more about the stuff."
- Creative leadership: appointed designer Zac Posen as creative director.
- Culture-led marketing: high-profile collaborations and campaigns, including the widely viewed "Better in Denim" campaign with the group Katseye.
- Portfolio management: a distinct positioning for each of the four brands.
Fortune reported comparable sales growth at the Gap brand across two years, while noting that investors still regard the turnaround as unproven.
Richard Dickson and technology
In its annual report for the fiscal year ending January 2026, Gap Inc. states that it is continuing to integrate AI and similar technologies across the business, and investing in data analytics and AI for supply chain, inventory and marketing. The company also highlights the use of first-party data to deliver more personalised content, offers and experiences.
Why it matters
Gap Inc. is a bellwether for American mass-market apparel. Dickson's tenure tests whether brand storytelling techniques proven in toys and entertainment can restore growth in a large, mature apparel portfolio. In 2026 the Fashion Institute of Technology honoured him at its annual gala for his work in reinvigorating brands.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of Gap Inc.?
Richard Dickson has been president and CEO of Gap Inc. since August 2023. He was previously president and chief operating officer of Mattel.
What is Richard Dickson known for?
Dickson is known for leading the revival of Barbie at Mattel and for serving as an executive producer of the 2023 Barbie film. At Gap Inc. he is pursuing a brand-led turnaround focused on storytelling and cultural relevance.