Mickey Drexler


Millard "Mickey" S. Drexler is an American businessman and investor, currently serving as the chairman of Outdoor Voices, and head of Drexler Ventures. He was formerly the CEO and Chairman of J.Crew Group, as well as the CEO of Gap Inc. He was on the board of directors at Apple Inc. from 1999 to 2015.

Early life and education

Born to Jewish parents in The Bronx, his mother died when he was 16. He studied at the Bronx High School of Science, City College of New York, and University at Buffalo. He later received an M.B.A. from Boston University.

Career

In the mid-1970s, Drexler was a merchandising vice-president at Abraham & Straus in Brooklyn, New York. He has also worked at Ann Taylor, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's.
Mickey Drexler was on Apple Inc’s board from 1999 until 2015.

Gap Inc.

Drexler is often credited with Gap's meteoric rise during the 1990s. Until then Gap had been a relatively small chain selling private and public brands. Under Drexler the company made a dramatic shift to private label brand merchandise and expanded rapidly to become an iconic part of 1990s pop culture, such as "khakis, basics and casual Fridays". Television advertisements featuring songs such as "Mellow Yellow" and "Dress You Up in My Love" showcased the relaxed American casual look that defined the Gap brand.
On May 22, 2002, however due to a sales slump and ballooning debt, plus his management style which clashed with the Fisher family, Drexler was abruptly forced to announce his retirement by Gap founder Donald Fisher. Drexler stayed on as CEO until September 26, 2002 when Paul Pressler was named as his successor. Drexler was bitter about his ouster and he was vindicated when sales rebounded one month after his departure.

J.Crew Group

The J.Crew Group, an American clothing and accessories retailer based in New York City, was founded in 1983 with the launch of its catalog and expanded into brick-and-mortar retailing in 1989 with its first store at the South Street Seaport in New York City. J. Crew hired Drexler as Chairman and CEO in 2003 after his abrupt departure from Gap. Applying similar strategies from Gap, Drexler sought to reposition the J. Crew brand as a truly upscale boutique. What was once a low-priced, American, dressy-casual brand became more an upscale, dressy-vintage American brand with "frills included".
On June 5, 2017, it was announced that Drexler would step aside as chief executive. He had been unable to stop a several year slide as consumer tastes changed. Drexler noted that "J. Crew raised prices and underwent expansion during years when consumers became more and more thrifty". On January 18, 2019, Drexler announced his retirement as chairman, but will remain a strategic advisor to the Office of the CEO and the board.

In popular culture

Drexler has made a guest appearance in an episode of the AMC drama Breaking Bad called Confessions, in which he plays a car wash customer. Drexler said his scene took nine takes to film.