Time for Pressler to pack again?

[MickeyMaxx]

This just in:

Rumors swirl on changes at Gap's helm
Women's Wear Daily is reporting that Gap is quietly seeking a replacement for president and CEO Paul Pressler. A company spokeswoman called the report "a complete rumor." * Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/14)

I wouldn't have posted, but seeing as how it's “a complete rumor”, I couldn't help myself.

First post, lurker since the beginning, looking forward to getting to know the nicest community on the web!

[danyoung]

Nothing wrong with posting rumors, as long as they're identified as such. It'll be interesting to see if he is indeed on the out.

And welcome - please feel free to jump in and contribute any time, anywhere!

[fantasmicfreak]

Cynthia Harris is also now at Gap Inc., having tagged along with Pressler. I work at the store in San Francisco, and he's in quite often--acutally a really nice guy!

[Lost Boy]

There was a big article in the LA Times last Sunday and it's no rumor. The board of Directors at The Gap is not at all happy with Pressler. Seems he pulled the same trick he did with Disney. Took over after all kinds of cool things had already been approved and budgeted and he moved in and took the credit (like with the Disney Stores) then when those ideas ran thier course, he had/has nothing. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for Gap to lose this loose cannon. Wonder who will have him next?

[Stare Girl]

This rumor is picking up steam--

From the LA Times this week:

The vexing trend at the store level has some analysts speculating about the boardroom and whether Chief Executive Pressler's days are numbered.

Three years after former Disney executive Paul Pressler took charge at Gap Inc., the nation's largest specialty apparel retailer is once again stuck in a sales slump.

The San Francisco-based company reported Thursday that sales at stores open at least a year fell 5% in October, marking12 straight months of flat or negative same-store sales.

Gap's numbers looked particularly gloomy as other chain stores across the country posted better-than-expected sales last month and some of its fiercest competitors delivered strong results — notably Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc., which posted increases of 31% and 17.3%, respectively.

Gap's same-store sales, a key measure of growth, could fall 10%for the year, which would translate to about $900 million in lost sales, analyst Jeffrey Klinefelter of Piper Jaffray & Co. in Minneapolis estimated.

With the stock down 19% year to date, analysts — and investors — are getting testy.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...-home-business

[Wotan]

Maybe they can start selling plushes, and set up small carts across the country from which people can buy their clothes on the sidewalks?

[themur]

Unfortunately this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has really looked at what he has accomplished (or not accomplished.)

He seems to do a great job leveraging off of the final good items that leaders before him have put into place!

[Gemini Cricket]

I hope this doesn't mean he's coming back to Disney...

[sediment]

The rumor is going very strong, because I found THIS on the internet.

[Evan]

See? This is what happens when you put huge lemonade stands in a clothing store.

[KevinYee]

Paul will know what to do. He'll put khakis on hiatus, open up a fiber-optics dominated line of clothing that will make wearers look like mutant pixies, and make huge promises about "the store of tomorrow" that will quickly fail any of the myriad harsh conditions that are the realities of daily operation.

If all else fails, perhaps he could set up a cheap annual pass to the Gap?

[Mr. Eggz]

This it what happens to all short-term free-agent types eventually. Let this be a warning to others out there.

Schadenfreude!

[Dustysage]

Just a little tip to help Paul out: Pin Trading. ::Cough::

You didn't hear it from me.

-Dusty

[General You]

As I was fighting the crowds at the park last weekend I thought to myself, you know when Pressler was around the park was never this crowded - perhaps they should bring him back to Disney to help aleviate the congestion...

[tloolgb]

The only scary thing about all this is now Wiess' job is open. I mean I highly doubt there isn't some mis-guided jerk in Disney who is hoping he gets his spot back.

And I mean the answer is so simple, all Paul needs to do is set up Leave a Legacy modeling sections in all the stores. In$tant ca$h.