Nasty Gal Founder Sophia Amoruso Steps Down From CEO Role

by Paige Reddinger

Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso has announced that she will step down as CEO of the company she turned from a small eBay business into a major fashion brand and e-tailer. While Amoruso has officially laid claim to the title “Girlboss” after her book of the same name, she is handing over the CEO reins to her president and chief product officer Sheree Waterson, who has been at Nasty Gal since February 2014. Waterson was previously executive vice president and chief product officer at Lululemon from June 2008 to April 2013. Prior to that she held roles as president of Speedo North America and vice president of merchandising, women’s, for Levi’s.

As president and chief product officer at Nasty Gal, Waterson oversaw the merchandising, planning, and production functions of the company. “Today is an incredible day at Nasty Gal,” said Amoruso in a press statement. “Sheree brings a wealth of experience in both business and leadership that will help guide us into the next phases of our growth. In the past eleven months alone, we have already seen the impacts of Sheree’s strategic thinking and approach in our product offering and experience. She has established herself as an inspiring leader here at Nasty Gal and I am confident in her ability to execute on our vision.” Part of that growth includes the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location in Los Angeles on Melrose. For those not in the know about Nasty Gal, the brand put up a sign outside of the store that read “No, it’s is not a porn site.” Many major e-tailers have been opening brick-and-mortars, as the traditional selling model has proved to still be important to consumers. There have long been management trouble rumors and layoffs at Nasty Gal, but Amoruso candidly told re/code today that while she finds herself capable of leading the Nasty Gal customer, she thought the company needed a CEO with operational expertise and the ability to take Nasty Gal to the next level of maturity. “I’m not even a parent,” Amoruso lightheartedly told re/code. “I hope to someday be the leader Sheree is.” Fair enough.

Amoruso will continue as founder and executive chairman and will oversee creative and brand marketing at Nasty Gal. Waterson’s role will be effective immediately. According to WWDNasty Gal does $130 million annually in sales. The brand has a global presence in 180 countries and a social media following of over 3.5 million.

 

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