Gap names operations manager as new president of Old Navy

SAN FRANCISCO, April 14 (UPI) — Sonia Syngal has been named the new global president of Old Navy, Gap Inc. announced Thursday.

Syngal, who most recently was executive vice president of Global Supply Chain and Product Operations for Gap, will continue to report to Gap Inc. CEO Art Peck.

“Syngal will lead the brand’s continued reinvention of the value space with quality, accessible fashion for everyone,” the company said in a statement.

Stefan Larsson left last fall to become the CEO of Ralph Lauren. On Sept. 30, the share price of Gap took a dive following the announcement of the departure of Larrson, who turned Old Navy into Gap Inc.’s No. 1 brand. The Old Navy brand is contributing 42.2 percent of total revenue, compared with the Gap brand, which is just 36.4 percent of total sales, according to Seeking Alpha.

Syngal, who has worked for Gap Inc. for 12 years, returns to Old Navy where she was senior vice president of the brand’s international division before being tapped to lead Gap’s enterprise-wide global supply chain in 2013.

“Sonia is an inspiring leader with a proven track record leading transformation and driving product-to-market innovations,” Peck said. “Following a comprehensive search, I’m confident Sonia is the right leader to enable Old Navy to realize its substantial, long-term growth potential.”

Before joining Gap, Syngal spent 10 years at Microsystems and six years at Ford Motor Company.

“Old Navy is truly changing the value space with great design and quality apparel that the whole family loves, and I can’t wait to focus my energy on continuing to deliver that promise to our customers,” Syngal said. “How we continue to transform our product engine, focused on balancing amazing product with operational excellence will be key to unlocking Old Navy’s next phase of growth.”

Gap’s fiscal year 2015 net sales were $15.8 billion. Other Gap brands are Banana Republic, Athleta and Intermix.

Sonia holds a master’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering from Stanford University (1995) and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University (1993).

Jill Stanton, who served as interim leader at Old Navy, will become a strategic adviser to support a seamless transition as Syngal takes the helm.