On May 19, Gap Inc. announced the appointment of Donald Kohler as Global Brand President and CEO of Banana Republic. Kohler is set to assume the role in July 2026 and will be based in San Francisco, where he will oversee the brand’s global business operations.
Summary
- Gap Inc. has appointed Donald Kohler as Global Brand President and CEO of Banana Republic
- Kohler previously served as CEO of PVH Americas and held leadership roles at Burberry, Ferragamo, and Diesel
- Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade in merchandising leadership roles across Gap, GapKids, and babyGap
- Banana Republic continues to strengthen its “Modern Explorer” brand strategy
Experience Across Luxury and Global Retail Markets
Kohler is a retail executive with more than three decades of experience across the luxury, premium, and specialty retail sectors. Most recently, he served as CEO of PVH Americas, overseeing North American operations for Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, including retail, e-commerce, wholesale, and licensing businesses.
Prior to PVH, he held senior leadership positions at Burberry, Ferragamo, and Diesel, where he became known for driving brand repositioning efforts and consumer-focused business transformation across global markets.
Earlier in his career, Kohler spent more than a decade at Gap Inc., serving in merchandising leadership roles across Gap, GapKids, and babyGap. The company noted that this experience helped shape his product-focused leadership philosophy and approach to brand building.
The appointment comes as Banana Republic continues to strengthen its “Modern Explorer” positioning strategy, aimed at accelerating growth and elevating the brand’s premium lifestyle identity. The strategy focuses on craftsmanship, creativity, travel, and discovery as core pillars of the brand universe.
Richard Dickson, CEO of Gap Inc., commented on the appointment: “Donald is a product-driven leader with deep global expertise and an extraordinary track record of revitalizing brands to new relevance with clarity, discipline, and storytelling that connects with customers to drive growth.”
He added: “Donald began his career in product at Gap Brand, where he developed his instincts for great design, impactful merchandising, and powerful storytelling. Just as importantly, he is deeply respected as a people leader who builds trust and develops high-performing teams. That rare combination of operational excellence and brand building positions him well to lead Banana Republic’s next chapter – building on the brand’s momentum and reinvigoration as a modern explorer brand.”
Kohler also shared a statement regarding his return to Gap Inc.: “Returning to Gap Inc. is deeply meaningful for me. Banana Republic has extraordinary heritage and a powerful opportunity to inspire today’s consumer through elevated product, immersive storytelling, and a cohesive customer journey. I believe great brands are built by great teams, and I look forward to getting to know the Banana Republic team and building what’s next together.”
Going forward, Banana Republic plans to continue strengthening its product architecture, deepen brand storytelling, elevate both physical and digital customer experiences, and drive disciplined execution across its global multi-channel business.
Banana Republic’s Next Chapter
In recent years, Banana Republic has been shifting away from its traditional American casual image toward a more premium and lifestyle-oriented positioning. The brand has increasingly emphasized elevated materials, craftsmanship, and visual storytelling inspired by travel and cultural exploration, while building a distinct identity around its “Modern Explorer” concept.
With Kohler’s extensive luxury and global brand experience, industry attention is now turning to how far Banana Republic can further elevate its brand value and relevance in the premium market.
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