HanesBrands, Winston-Salem, N.C., recently announced that its board of directors has appointed Stephen B. Bratspies as chief executive officer and board member, effective Aug. 3.
Bratspies will succeed Gerald W. Evans Jr., who previously announced his plans to retire after a 37-year career at HanesBrands.
“After a comprehensive search, we are excited to appoint Steve as the next CEO of Hanes,” says Ronald L. Nelson, the company’s chairman of the board. “Steve is an experienced global leader, has a strong vision for the future of consumer products businesses, and has an extensive track record of success in senior management roles across a number of critical business disciplines. He has tackled complex business challenges and consistently delivered superior results across a multitude of consumer product categories. We are confident that Steve is the ideal CEO to lead Hanes forward as we focus on our strong portfolio of consumer brands across the globe, rapid online growth, and strong cash flow model. We look forward to an exciting new chapter for Hanes under Steve’s leadership and oversight.”
Bratspies has more than 25 years of retail, digital and consumer product leadership experience. Most recently, he served as chief merchandising officer at Walmart Inc. where he managed $330 billion in sales, drove a major merchandising transformation initiative, and accelerated comp-store sales and market share gains, according to the company.
Bratspies will relocate to Winston-Salem.
“I am thrilled to be joining the HanesBrands team, the clear global leader in everyday apparel basics with great iconic brands like Hanes and Champion,” says Bratspies. “It is an honor to assume the role of CEO and join this highly respected global team of 63,000 strong. I have great respect for all that Hanes has accomplished throughout its rich history, including developing power brands, driving category-leading product innovation, and building deep consumer relationships. In addition, Hanes has built a world-class company-owned supply chain and established a strong reputation for workplace, environmental and social responsibility. Together, we will continue to accomplish great things and chart a future of growth and value creation for all of our constituencies.” — D.S.
