Stephen Sunnucks aims to build Gap in Europe

Former New Look chief executive Stephen Sunnucks was appointed to Gap Europe last week as part of the US retailer’s European expansion plans. The Fat Face and Phase Eight director talks to Retail Week about his decision to join the fashion giant.

Congratulations on your new job.

‘Thank you, I’m really excited about it.’

What exactly will you be doing? ‘I’m responsible for Gap Inc’s brands across Europe. They’ve already got a good team they’ve built up in the UK, which is headed by Bernie Foster, and there’s a good business in France. There are 134 stores in France and 135 in the UK.’

How will you improve Gap’s performance?

‘They’ve started to make strides themselves in strengthening the design team. You’ve probably read about that over the last 18 months, with Pina Ferlisi and Emma Hill from Marc Jacobs -and obviously the use of Sarah Jessica Parker and Joss Stone.

’What’s first on the list of improvements?

‘They announced last Thursday just for Gap they are going to do a seven-store trial in the US of store refits. It’s really building on all those things it started in the US.

Why Gap?

‘It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Gap is a fantastic business and they feel it’s really the right moment to look at Europe, and wanted someone to work with them to develop it. It really is a fantastic job; too good not to do really.’

What can you bring to the job?

“Hopefully, I can bring a good deal of experience from working in many different sectors, from M&S to supermarkets. I worked for Sainsbury’s, more recently at Arcadia and New Look. I’m good at building up teams and working on strategies of businesses.’

Do you shop at Gap?

‘Yes, as a family. I’ve got three young boys, so we are shoppers at Gap.’