Ralph Lauren Steps Down As CEO
Ralph Lauren Steps Down As CEO
After 50 years as chief executive officer of the brand he founded, Ralph Lauren has stepped down from the company he founded, enlisting Stefan Larsson – the global president of Old Navy since 2012 – as the first ever CEO replacement of the brand. Lauren will remain executive chairman and chief creative officer for the foreseeable future.
Ralph Lauren told WWD, « Stefan has the sensitivity of design and of building a business and growing companies. That’s rare in our business. Usually, it’s one or the other, » furthering that this change will not affect his level of involvement within the company – « This is important to say: There is no toe in the water. I won’t be coming in two days a week. »
« I had dinner with Ralph, the most iconic American fashion designer, » explained Larsson. « Our meeting had a big impact on me; I think we started speaking dreams minutes into the dinner. Dreams and realising that Ralph has made more in his life so far than anybody can ever dream of and here he is, speaking about growing the business, speaking about generations, speaking about stories. And I was just moved by that. »
Ralph Lauren Steps Down As CEO
