Gap Inc. has appointed Donald Kohler as global brand president and chief executive officer of Banana Republic, effective July 2026, ending a roughly two-year search for permanent leadership at the San Francisco-based brand. Kohler joins from PVH Corp., where he served as chief executive officer of PVH Americas overseeing Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. His departure triggered a simultaneous three-person executive reshuffle at PVH, announced the same day, according to a Gap Inc. official press release.
The Banana Republic new CEO 2026 announcement marks one of the most consequential executive movements between two of America’s largest apparel conglomerates this year. Kohler’s last day at PVH is June 30, 2026, with his Gap Inc. tenure beginning the following month.
Kohler’s Background: Luxury Retail and a Return to Gap Inc.
Kohler brings more than 30 years of experience in luxury, premium and specialty retail. Before PVH, he held senior roles at Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo and Diesel. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade at Gap Inc. in merchandising leadership, making this appointment a homecoming.
At PVH, Kohler oversaw the Americas business for two of the company’s flagship lifestyle labels. His tenure coincided with high-visibility brand moments including the Calvin Klein x Jung Kook CKJK collection and recent cultural placements such as Rosalía wore custom Calvin Klein at The Ivors.
“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.” — Richard Dickson, CEO, Gap Inc.
Kohler said in the announcement: “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.”
PVH Makes Three Executive Moves to Fill Kohler’s Departure
PVH Corp. announced three appointments to its Executive Leadership Team to absorb Kohler’s portfolio, according to PVH Corp. press releases.
Adelyn Cheong Named CEO of PVH Americas
Adelyn Cheong takes the Americas CEO role in late summer 2026. Cheong joined PVH in 2018 to lead Tommy Hilfiger in Asia Pacific and was appointed President of PVH China in 2021. The promotion gives her direct authority over Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger across the company’s largest single region.
Jonathan Bottomley Expands Role to Group Brand Strategy
Jonathan Bottomley adds the title of executive vice president, group consumer and brand strategy, to his existing role as Calvin Klein global chief marketing officer. The expansion takes effect immediately.
Joel Samaha Joins as President of Global Licensing
Joel Samaha joins PVH on July 6 from Boston Consulting Group as president of global licensing, partnerships and expansion. The newly created role signals PVH intends to aggressively monetize its brand portfolio beyond direct retail and wholesale channels.
“We are thrilled to add these experienced and talented leaders to our Executive Leadership Team, as we drive next-level execution of our PVH+ Plan and unlock the full potential of Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER.” — Stefan Larsson, CEO, PVH Corp.
Banana Republic’s Current Brand Position
Banana Republic posted net sales of approximately $1.9 billion in fiscal 2025, down 1 percent year over year, while comparable sales rose 3 percent, according to the Gap Inc. FY2026 annual report. The brand has operated without a permanent CEO since Sandra Stangl’s departure in 2024, with Gap Inc. chief executive Richard Dickson overseeing it directly during the search.
The brand is positioned as a modern explorer lifestyle label rooted in craftsmanship, creativity and discovery. Kohler’s stated mandate is to strengthen product architecture, deepen storytelling, elevate in-store and digital experiences and drive disciplined execution across global channels. Gap Inc. has shown willingness to invest behind its portfolio brands, as demonstrated by the recent Victoria Beckham x Gap 2026 collaboration.
Industry Context: PVH+ Plan and Tariff Headwinds
PVH Corp. reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $8.95 billion, up 3 percent year over year. Calvin Klein grew 3 percent and Tommy Hilfiger grew 4 percent. Fourth-quarter revenue reached $2.5 billion, up 6 percent, with earnings per share of $3.82 beating the $3.30 consensus estimate.
For 2026, PVH guided revenue up slightly with non-GAAP operating margins of approximately 8.8 percent, absorbing roughly 215 basis points of gross tariff headwinds. The PVH+ Plan, launched in 2021 by chief executive Stefan Larsson, focuses exclusively on scaling Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger as global lifestyle brands, a strategic narrowing that mirrors Kering’s ReconKering restructuring plan.
Performance across American fashion peers has been mixed. Ralph Lauren’s record $8B FY2026 revenue demonstrated continued premium demand, while Tapestry Q3 2026 results showed strong Americas growth at rival conglomerate Coach.
The Kohler appointment also fits a broader 2026 pattern of C-suite turnover across fashion. Lululemon named Heidi O’Neill as new CEO earlier this year, and Rent the Runway CEO Jennifer Hyman stepped down, underscoring how rapidly the industry’s leadership ranks are being rewritten.
