Sports Authority appointed Gwen Manto, former chief merchant at Dick's SG, as EVP and chief merchant to oversee all merchandising, planning, allocation, fulfillment, supply chain and product development function
Manto previously served as Executive Vice President & Chief Merchandising Officer for Dick's Sporting Goods and brings over four decades of retail and merchandising experience to Sports Authority's executive leadership team. Manto's appointment to Executive Vice President and Chief Merchant is effective June 1, 2010.
“We are very pleased to have Gwen joining our team and as we continue to work with our premiere sporting goods vendors, we know Gwen will be the best asset to have on our side,” said David Campisi, CEO of Sports Authority. “I believe Gwen's creativity, business acumen and leadership experience will be instrumental to our success as we continue to grow our business.”
Prior to Manto's employment with Dick's Sporting Goods, she served as Executive Vice President of Softlines for Sears, Roebuck & Company, where she led the apparel and soft home categories. Manto has also served as Vice Chairman & Chief Merchandising Officer for Stein Mart and as President & CEO of Kid's Foot Locker. Earlier in her career, Manto held the senior level merchant role at both Kids-R-Us and Babies-R-Us.
“I have an immense amount of respect and admiration for the team at Sports Authority and the inspirational brand they have built,” said Manto. “As the nation's only sporting goods retailer that truly has a 'national footprint', I am thrilled to start creating large-scale business results.”
