“Winnie … is an inspirational leader and team builder who brings deep omnichannel experience and a track record of successfully growing businesses with particular strengths in strategy, merchandising, marketing and branding,” Marc Miller, chief executive of New Jersey-based SPARC Group, said in a statement. “As CEO, Winnie will add fresh perspective and approaches in connecting with the Forever 21 customer, which will help drive Forever 21 from its current $2 billion sales level to new heights of success as a leading brand in SPARC’s fashion and lifestyle brand portfolio.”
Prior to joining Forever 21, Park served as chief executive of Chicago-based Paper Source for six years and spent nine years at the Hong Kong-based international luxury retail leader, DFS, a division of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
“As a longtime shopper and admirer of the brand, I am honored to join Forever 21 at such a pivotal time of reinvention and reinvigoration,” Park said in a statement. “I am looking forward to partnering with this exceptional leadership team to continue the transformation of this brand with a focus on the Forever 21 community including its people, purpose and business priorities across digital and traditional retail channels.”
SPARC Group, which acquired Forever 21 for $81 million in February 2020, is owned by Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. and New York-based Authentic Brands Group.
South Korean immigrants, Do Won and Jin Sook Chang founded Forever 21 in 1984 with $11,000 in savings. Their first clothing store, located in downtown’s Garment District, was called Fashion 21.
