Marquee Brands LLC appointed Neil Fiske as its first chief executive officer of Marquee Brands LLC. Fiske was most recently chief executive officer of the GAP brand and formerly led Billabong and Eddie Bauer.
“Neil brings world-class multi-brand operational experience to Marquee Brands and has a track record of successfully building and repositioning brands. We are very excited to have him lead the team as the company’s first chief executive officer. Neil has the leadership track record and breadth of business experience we believe are critical to lead Marquee,” said Sam Porat, managing director, Neuberger Berman.
Founded in 2014, Marquee Brands has become acquired a number of consumer brands and now manages a portfolio with $3 billion of retail sales across 11 brands and four consumer segments. The portfolio includes Martha Stewart, BCBG, Ben Sherman, Dakine, Sur La Table Body Glove, Emeril Lagasse, Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in a Pod, and Bruno Magli.
“As we continue to build and evolve the Marquee Brands business model, it was the right time for us to find a CEO with the experience and strategic foresight to take advantage of the unprecedented market opportunities ahead of us,” said Zachary Sigel, managing director, Neuberger Berman. “Neil shares our vision for Marquee and will position us well to fully capitalize on the current dislocation across the retail and consumer industry. We welcome him to the Marquee Brands team, and we are excited about the future.”
“Marquee Brands has one of the best portfolios in the industry with premium brands that are truly meaningful to the consumer, have clear identities and competitive positionings, and a runway of growth ahead of them,” said Fiske. “I am fortunate to join a company that has a proven formula for success, a strong team adapting quickly to this ever-changing environment, and investing at a time when many are in retreat. With the full backing of Neuberger Berman, I look forward to working closely with Michael DeVirgilio, Cory Baker and the executive team to grow this business and capitalize on the rich set of opportunities so clearly in front of us.”
Fiske’s career as a CEO has focused on building brands, transforming businesses, and adapting to a seamlessly omnichannel consumer environment. Prior to the Gap, Fisk served as CEO at Billabong International, where he restored the flagship Billabong brand to a position of market leadership and multi-year share growth. He also spent five years as president and chief executive officer at Eddie Bauer, repositioning the company to focus on its heritage as America’s original outdoor outfitter. Fiske was also CEO at Bath and Body Works.
Photos courtesy Marquee Brands