Mattel’s Barbie savior hired away as Gap CEO to revive apparel giant

Apparel giant Gap tapped a branding veteran who helped revive Mattel’s Barbie franchise as its CEO, ending the company’s yearlong search to fill the top spot, the struggling retailer announced Wednesday.

Richard Dickson, the president and chief operating officer at Mattel, will leave his position at the toymaker — where he’s spent much of his career — on Aug. 3, and will start the new role on Aug. 22, according to a statement issued by Gap.

Mattel told staff about Dickson’s departure early Wednesday, just days after the “Barbie” movie’s three-day opening hauled in $155 million, making it the biggest film debut so far this year.

Dickson has had two decade-long stints at Mattel, according to his LinkedIn, and has been credited with “reinvigorating Mattel’s iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price,” Gap’s statement said.

The UCLA grad’s entire career has been in apparel: He co-founded online beauty retailer Gloss.com in 1999 and later served as an executive for Bloomingdale’s, the Barbie brand and Nine West’s corporate parent, The Jones Group, before returning to Mattel as a C-suite boss.

Dickson, 55, has also served on Gap’s board of directors since last November.

The Post has sought comment from Dickson.

Gap shares were up nearly 7.5%, to $9.89 per share, in the wake of the announcement.

The once-dominant apparel company — which includes Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta — has been faltering against competitors like Zara, the world’s largest fast-fashion retailer, and online fast-fashion seller Shein.

In April, Gap slashed 1,800 workers at its corporate headquarters as part of a cost-cutting reorganization at the retail business, which boasts more than 3,300 stores globally.

The move will reportedly save the San Francisco-based company up to $300 million. It came on the heels of eliminating over 500 corporate positions in September as sales and profits dipped.

The company has some 95,000 employees worldwide and nearly 10% work at the company’s corporate offices.

Its struggles were exacerbated when Gap axed former chief executive Sonia Syngal last July.

Chairman Bob Martin took over as interim CEO.

Dickson is stepping into the role as Gap still reels from its failed collaboration with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.

In May, Gap sued Ye for $2 million after the controversial rapper-turned-mogul made unapproved changes to a Los Angeles rental property the landlord is trying to collect on.

According to court documents obtained by The Post, Gap filed a claim against Ye, 46, and his Yeezy clothing line in LA court last month.

Art City Center, the company that claims to own the building leased to Gap, sued the clothing giant last year over “damages” to the property at 1360 E. 6th St.

The alterations included erecting an exterior ramp in the east side parking lot; installing a tunnel in the lot; removing ceiling lights; building a wall; and nixing three bathrooms, according to the lawsuit.

The Yeezy Gap collaboration began in 2020 and was supposed to be a 10-year relationship before Gap cut ties with Ye later that same year.