Member Profile

Rich is a proven leader with extensive experience building brands, operating businesses and creating organizations for such companies as The Gap, Banana Republic and Giorgio Armani. After beginning his career with Bloomingdale's in New York and Washington, Rich moved to San Francisco to join The Gap. As one of the original members of the merchandising team that re-built The Gap brand, Rich earned a track record of growing and developing businesses in his 12 years with the company. He held several leadership positions with The Gap, eventually moving to Banana Republic, where, as Executive Vice President, he led the turnaround of that troubled division. In 1994, Rich became the President of A/X Armani Exchange, where he rebuilt this failing licensee of Giorgio Armani into a profitable growth vehicle by refocusing the product and significantly increasing sales and store locations, including the international expansion of the brand. In 1999, Rich was the President and CEO of Naartjie Custom Kids, a children's apparel retailing start-up where he oversaw the acquisition and integration of an existing overseas brand and its operations into a newly-formed US venture.

Expanding the scope of his experience beyond apparel retailing, Rich next became the President of PlumpJack, a California brand operating restaurants, a resort, winery and retail businesses. There, he opened four new ventures, while establishing organizational and operating standards in a family-run business. Recently, Rich has consulted and advised several companies in various consumer-driven industries, ranging from start-ups to established firms. His roles have included functioning in 2004 - 2005 as the President of Georgiou, a retailer of women's apparel and accessories, where he attempted to lead a turnaround of that brand, as well as serving on the Advisory Boards of an assortment of ventures. In 2005, Rich joined Fundamental Capital, a private equity firm that invests in small companies, while providing hands-on strategic and operating guidance to them, as a Founding Investor and Operating Partner. Rich is a graduate of Princeton University.