Abercrombie creates new senior role focused on sustainability and social responsibility

By

Robin Driver

Published
Aug 30, 2021

American fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. announced on Monday that it has appointed Michael Lopez to the newly created role of senior vice president for environmental, social and governance.

 
In his new position, Lopez will be responsible for leading the New Albany, Ohio-based company’s efforts in the fields of sustainability, community giving, inclusion and diversity, as the retailer seeks to expand and consolidate its ESG strategy. He will report directly to Abercrombie’s chief human resources officer, Holly May, and will also become a member of the company’s executive steering committee.
 
Lopez comes to Abercrombie from multinational I.T. company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he served as chief diversity officer. In this role, he was tasked with diversifying the organization’s workforce and developing strategies that aimed to foster an inclusive environment for all HPE employees.

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His previous experience also includes a range of leadership positions at companies including Goldman Sachs, Jefferies & Company, and Alcoa, where he worked in areas such as inclusion and diversity, government relations, public affairs, international relations and human resources.
 
Lopez is also an active member of the Human Rights Campaign, serving on the organization’s business advisory council.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael to Abercrombie & Fitch Co.,” said the retailer’s CEO, Fran Horowitz, in a release. “His proven experience across ESG functions will be vital as we look to further expand and align the important efforts of our sustainability, community giving, and inclusion and diversity teams.”
 
Abercrombie’s second-quarter sales totaled $865 million in the three-month period ended July 31, 20201, up 24% year over year. Quarterly net income was $109 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the prior-year period.