Riddle of Gap president's resignation just weeks after failed logo redesign
The President of Gap's north American operation has stepped down after 24 years with the company.
Gap did not disclose why Marka Hansen, 57, would be leaving the company, but her departure follows a failed bid to launch a new logo for for the brand, that saw thousands take to Facebook and Twitter in complaint.
Ms Hansen was forced to axe the new logo just weeks after it launched in an embarrassing about-turn.
About-turn: Gap's former president Marka Hansen with head designer Patrick Robinson. She stepped down this week after a failed bid to launch a new logo
The clothing chain has also suffered from consistently falling profits for the past seven years, with an eight per cent fall in sales this December alone.
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Ms Hansen, who has been at the helm of the company since 2007, will be replaced by Art Peck, 54, who previously headed the brand's outlet operation.
Gap will also be making New York the creative hub for its stores, rather than San Francisco, and will be merging the operation of its Banana Republic and Gap chains with the outlet division.
Revamp: Gap replaced its twenty-year-old logo with a new design in October (left). Ms Hansen was forced to return to the original (right) after a customer backlash
'I expect more from our Gap business in North America,' said Glenn Murphy, chairman and CEO of Gap Inc.
'The changes we're making are intended to propel the brand to deliver the product and brand experience our customers demand worldwide.
'New York will now serve as the global epicenter for creativity for the Gap brand, which is exactly what we need to compete effectively here at home and internationally.'
Gap attempted to change its logo back in October as part of a modernisation campaign to revive the flagging brand.
Under fire: Thousands of posts appeared on Twitter and Facebook attacking the new design, pictured on Gap's website, calling it 'bland', ugly' and 'an utter failure'
The launch of an online store and the new branding was meant to be 'a modern, sexy cool' new approach to fashion.
But the move sparked outrage on sites including Facebook, with Vanity Fair magazine branding the marketing strategy 'infantile'.
A Twitter account opposing the change gathered 5,000 followers and more than 2,000 comments were posted on Facebook.
The customer backlash meant Ms Hansen was forced to axe the new campaign.
International: The chain operates nearly 300 stores in Europe and Asia and is the 84th most-valuable brand in the world
She said at the time: 'All of the comments say over and over that they are passionate about our blue box logo and want it back. So we've decided to do that.'
In addition to Gap and Banana Republic stores and outlets, Gap Inc. operates clothing sellers Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta.
The chain operates nearly 300 stores in Europe and Asia and is the 84th most-valuable brand in the world.
The brand has been valued at nearly $4 billion despite a two per cent drop in sales last month.
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