Gap appoints Universal Music Publishing chief Jody Gerson to board

Gap has appointed Jody Gerson, chairman and chief executive of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), to its board of directors.

Gerson, who joined UMPG in 2015, was the first woman to lead a global music publisher. She has signed artists including Adele, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Coldplay, and oversaw acquisitions of catalogues from Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Sting.

She also serves on the boards of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ancestry.com, Project Healthy Minds and the National Music Publishers Association, and co-founded the non-profit She Is the Music.

Richard Dickson, Gap president and chief executive, said: “Jody is a cultural force in her own right. Her insights into fashiontainment — our platform at the intersection of fashion, music and celebrity — are unmatched. At Gap Inc., we’ve always believed that style is a form of storytelling, and Jody’s ability to amplify voices and shape cultural moments will be invaluable as we continue redefining what it means to be an iconic, purpose-led house of brands.”

Board chair Mayo Shattuck added: “Jody’s ability to connect culture and commerce is exactly what makes her such a dynamic leader. Her vision and creativity will help us strengthen our brands’ resonance with the next generation of consumers.”

Gerson said: “Gap Inc. has long been a cultural icon, bridging fashion, music, and identity. I’m honored to join Gap Inc.’s board of directors and excited to bring my perspective and experience in the creative industries to the table. Equally, I’m energized to support Richard Dickson’s vision and draw inspiration from Gap’s remarkable renaissance as a brand that’s become synonymous with the culture of music.”