Richard Dickson

Richard Dickson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Gap Inc., the largest specialty apparel retailer in the US with more than $15B in annual revenue and a global team of more than 80,000 employees. Founded in San Francisco in 1969, Gap Inc.’s house of iconic American brands includes Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta. 

Dickson has built a career transforming companies and reinvigorating brands by understanding what made them special in the first place, then evolving them to new relevance with story-led products and experiences that both reflect and shape culture. Under his leadership, Gap Inc. is progressing one of the most celebrated companies in fashion where purpose and profit are aligned to matter, creating positive impacts for people and planet. Deeply inspired by San Francisco, Dickson’s impact goes beyond the business to the revitalization effort underway in Gap Inc.’s hometown where he is a member of The Partnership for San Francisco and an executive committee member of the CalCEO Council. 

Dickson joined Gap Inc.’s Board Directors in 2022, while serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel. During his tenure, Mattel grew several of the world’s most powerful and purpose-driven brands, including Barbie (the #1 doll property globally), Hot Wheels (the #1 vehicle property globally), and Fisher-Price (the #1 Infant, Toddler, and Preschool property globally).* In 2023, Dickson was an executive producer of the award-winning movie, Barbie, a global cultural phenomenon, and the year’s highest grossing film.  

Prior to Mattel, Dickson was President and CEO of Branded Businesses for The Jones Group and held executive roles at Bloomingdale’s. He also co-founded Gloss.com, the first online retailer dedicated to high-end cosmetics, which was acquired by Estee Lauder in 2000.  

Dickson is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the UCLA Anderson School of Management executive program. He serves on the board of Gap Inc. and is on the Board of Advisors for the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. He is also a member of the Business Roundtable and serves on the steering committee of The Fashion Pact. 

* Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, Year 2022