Gary Muto Email & Phone Number

As an advisor, I counsel executive leaders in how to best engage potential clients in this media investment and trading agency, providing clients with strategies that drive significant economic value through creative asset and inventory trade solutions.

New York, New York, United States

After serving as CEO for the $6B ascena brands portfolio from 2017 to 2019, I took on the role of corporatewide CEO to drive a strategic transformation to improve profitability, brand awareness, equity, and customer engagement.During this time, my team and I launched high-profile, significant corporate social responsibility and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives leading us to earning recognition as one of Forbes’ “Best Places to Work for Diversity” and “Best Places to Work for Women.”In 2020, we ultimately partnered with financial lenders and I oversaw the ten-figure sale of three strategic brands to equity partners.

New York, New York, United States

Following Ann Inc.’s acquisition by ascena Retail Group, I was retained and promoted to integrate the $2.5B business into ascena’s larger organization while continuing to lead the former Ann Brands portfolio. In this role, my team and I drove market-leading e-commerce growth by doubling channel revenue and contribution after investing in e-commerce, automation, and hyper-personalized digital marketing.I also delivered $245M in total cost savings following the integration by leveraging a hybrid product sourcing model.

New York, New York, United States

In 2014, I took on the full corporate portfolio of brands to navigate a market shift and aging customer base for Ann Taylor while continuing LOFT’s growth trajectory. This included launching Lou & Grey, a standalone concept brand attracting a younger customer, which grew to deliver $100M in new sales annually.

New York, New York, United States

I initially joined Ann Inc. amid the financial crisis in 2008 following a period of flat performance at $1B in annual revenue. After building a world-class leadership team that attracted top talent with a customer-first focus, we were able to turn around performance from five quarters of negative comp to 17 straight quarters of positive comp growth. During this time, our total revenue grew by 40% and we increased market share from the 6th- to the 2nd-largest specialty apparel brand. We also championed the omnichannel experience as early pioneers in the space, resulting in 4x e-commerce sales growth.

New York City Metropolitan Area

I was brought back to the Gap brand to reignite worldwide sales across Adult and Body categories after a steady period of decline. While in this role, I drove the comprehensive launch of the 1969 Denim brand, which is still a significant driver of Gap’s total sales today.

In this role, I led the build-out and launch of a new standalone brand targeting the 35+-year-old consumer. My team and I took the brand from an early-stage concept to execution by opening 20 stores in nine markets, delivering $50M in annual revenue in less than two years with little leveraged structure provided by Gap, Inc.

Following the turnaround of Banana Republic, I was appointed to stabilize the struggling Gap brands by reimagining all customer-facing aspects of the business with a hyperfocus on the store and customer experience. While in this role, I delivered five quarters of positive sales comp increases and over 3,000% earnings growth in under two years.

I took on this $1.6B brand to reset the strategic direction, overhaul the GTM strategy, and reinvigorate their creative leadership. During this time, I repositioned Banana Republic into the affordable luxury brand it is today after recruiting a new creative director to modernize the aesthetic.