Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> April 5, 2004
LISA M. HARPER is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Gymboree
Corporation. She oversees the design, manufacturing and retail of the
company's multiple brands and led the concept development for The
Gymboree Corporation's newest specialty retail concept, Janeville_,
launched April 2004. Ms. Harper has first-hand knowledge of and
experience with the financial, merchandising and operational aspects of
The Gymboree Corporation, having held many key management positions
across multiple functions in her more than seven years at the company.
From 1992 to 1995, Ms. Harper served as Gymboree's Director of
Merchandising and Design. She rejoined The Gymboree Corporation as
Senior Vice President of Design in 1999, and was asked to oversee all
merchandising functions before taking on additional responsibility as
General Merchandise Manager from 1999 to 2000. Prior to being promoted
to the role of CEO in February 2001, she served as the President and
Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2001. Splitting her more than 20
years in the retail industry between women's wear and children's, Ms.
Harper's extensive retail background includes numerous senior design,
merchandising and operational roles with other prominent retailers such
as Levi Strauss, Esprit, Mervyn's, Gap, Inc., and Limited Too. She sits
on the Board of Directors of the National Retail Federation. Profile
tell us about some of the company's activities at the present time?
Ms. Harper: Gymboree started as a parent-child
