AMERICAN EAGLE ADDS RETAIL VETERAN PETER HORVATH TO C-SUITE

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has appointed Peter Z. Horvath to the position of chief global commercial and administrative officer, effective May 9. He will report to chief executive officer, Jay Schottenstein.

In this role, Horvath will be responsible for global store operations, real estate, human resources, merchandise planning and allocation, legal and corporate strategy.

Horvath joins AEO with extensive retail experience, spanning 30 years, during which he rose to EVP, chief operating officer for Victoria’s Secret Stores. Prior to that, he was president of footwear retailer DSW, Inc., and was instrumental in the company’s 2005 initial public offering. Throughout his career, Horvath has led a broad range of corporate functions and retail operations, with a strong track record of driving growth and profitability for multi-billion dollar retail brands.

“I worked closely with Peter at DSW, and I’m thrilled he is joining AEO in this important leadership role,” said Schottenstein. “He is an effective and strategic retail executive, with strong consumer and brand experience. He will help us identify new operational efficiencies and drive profitable growth. I’m confident that Peter will be a valuable addition to our executive team, as we continue to deliver strong business results and propel AEO to even greater heights.”

“I’m eager to work with some of the best talent in the business and build on the strength of AEO’s brands,” added Horvath. “These are exciting times for the company and I look forward to contributing to our future success.”