Children’s Place Hires Gap Kids Exec as Head Designer

Children’s Place Retail Stores named Michael Giannelli, a former designer for Gap Inc.’s kids, baby and body brands, as head designer for the seller of children’s apparel, according to the Wall Street Journal. Giannelli worked at Gap for 18 years, most recently as vice president of Gap Body. For 12 years, he designed children’s apparel and non-apparel for Gap Kids and Baby Gap. According to the article, Children’s Place President and Chief Executive Jane Elfers said the hiring was very strategic, as strengthening the retailer’s merchandise is the company’s “number one key initiative.”