March 9, 2016

The Design & Merchandising program will host its annual Distinguished Speaker event on April 14 at 6:00pm with James D. Gundell, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Eileen Fisher, Inc. Over the course of his impressive career, Gundell rose rapidly from assistant buyer to running Bloomingdales flagship 59^th Street NYC store; to being in charge of all retail for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA); and serving as Divisional President of Factory Store Concepts at Ralph Lauren. Gundell will speak to his leadership experience and retail vision in a free-to-the-public talk in the URBN Annex Screening Room (3401 Filbert Street).

Eileen Fisher launched her women’s apparel company in 1984 with just $350, making her mark with clean lines, simple shapes and a timeless, functional style. The company now has more than 800 employees and 56 locations in 15 states with annual sales of over $300 million.

Past D&M Distinguished speakers have included Angela Ahrendts, then CEO of Burberry; Diane Ellis, then President and COO of Brooks Brothers; Lauren Ohtake, who has held senior merchandising and product development positions at Donna Karan New York (DKNY), VINCE and rag & bone; and Aaron Magness, then the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Business Development for Zappos.  

For more information about the free event please contact Vicky Hurst at  vlh49@drexel.edu.