Forever 21, the iconic fashion brand, announced the appointment of Winnie Park as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on January 19, 2022. With over 20 years of experience in international fashion, beauty, luxury, and e-commerce, Park brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role. A Princeton University graduate with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Park began her career at McKinsey & Company before moving to Levi Strauss.
She then held executive roles at companies such as DFS Group, where she launched their first global e-commerce site for fashion, beauty, watches, jewelry, and spirits. Prior to joining Forever 21, Park served as the CEO of Paper Source for six years, overseeing the retailer's expansion into a lifestyle brand and its sale to an affiliate of bookseller Barnes & Noble. Forever 21 is owned by Authentic Brands Group, a group that generated $489 million in revenue in 2020 and comprises over 30 brands spanning various lifestyle categories.
Principal shareholders include BlackRock, Leonard Green & Partners, General Atlantic, Simon Property Group, and Lion Capital. Park's appointment as CEO comes after the departure of Daniel Kulle, who left the position after less than two years. Under the ownership of the Sparc Group, a joint venture of mall REIT Simon Property Group and brand conglomerate Authentic Brands Group, Forever 21 aims to grow its $2 billion in sales with Park at the helm.
As a longtime shopper and admirer of Forever 21, Park expressed her excitement about leading the iconic brand for both personal and professional reasons. With her extensive background in fashion and retail, Park is poised to bring fresh ideas and strategies to the company, further solidifying Forever 21's position in the fast-fashion industry.
