WINSTON RETAIL HIRES CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & VICE PRESIDENT OF RETAIL 

Global retail consulting agency Winston Retail has hired Christina Gabriel as Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Donohue as Vice President of Retail. Both positions are newly created senior roles within their respective corporate teams, and both were hired in order to accommodate the company’s growth and expansion. Gabriel will lead Winston’s operations team while Donohue will supporting the ongoing expansion of Winston’s client roster. The new corporate structure will allow the company to support larger projects, more diverse client initiatives and double down on its pop-up experiential division. 

Winston Retail has experienced exponential growth over the last three years, and its visual merchandising field team has more than doubled. 

“We are excited to welcome Christina Gabriel and Michael Donohue to the organization. This new chapter for Winston will allow us to strengthen our operational expertise, accommodate our growth and be more nimble and more flexible with our current and future clients. Their experience and legacy in the industry will further drive our goals as best in class as an agency”, said Jan Croatt, CEO and Founder, Winston Retail. 

As COO, Christina Gabriel will oversee a team comprised of 50 corporate employees and 2800+ field visual merchandisers. She has previously worked across luxury and mid-tier retailers, both in free-standing stores and with wholesale partners in the U.S and Globally including Banana Republic, JCrew. Kiehl’s, and Bulgari. 

“Retail is constantly evolving. How, when and where customers shop is dynamic, but people are still the engine that brings it to life. The level of Winston’s field talent is a competitive advantage our clients can leverage to deliver compelling experiences in-store that exceed expectations and build loyalty. I look forward to working with the team to develop the systems and processes, with a focus on employee engagement and communication as we move into this high-growth period,” said Christina Gabriel, Chief Operating Officer, Winston Retail. 

As VP of Retail, Michael Donohue will be expanding operations by hiring new team members to help oversee client retail initiatives, activations, and pop-up retail operations. This next phase of growth will further enhance Winston’s retail presence as the dominant creative, project management, visual merchandising, and staffing support provider for brands and retailers. 

“My first step will be to build a foundation for the new retail department and newly expanded team which will be crucial to growing the service capabilities that Winston offers in 2022 and beyond. I am thrilled to be joining such a stellar renown agency.” said Michael Donahue, VP of Retail, Winston Retail. 

Winston Retail currently works with over 100 brands and Retailers throughout the United States. Its current client roster includes retail partners such as Walmart, Footlocker, Saks Off Fifth, Vail Resorts, Academy, Cotton On, Eddie Bauer, The Container Store and top Brands such as Hugo Boss, Barbour, Wolverine, Moose Knuckles, Yeti, Birkenstock, MZ Wallace, Shinola, Happy Socks, Yeti, Stanley, Hanes Brandes and Sparc Group Events and Activations for PGA, US Open and Westfield Holiday Marketplaces.