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Gap Inc. confirmed that John Demsey, a former Estée Lauder executive who joined the retailer in 2025 as executive director of beauty, has left the company. Gap has not disclosed why he departed or named a replacement, and says beauty remains a growth opportunity, particularly at Old Navy.
Gap Inc. has confirmed that John Demsey, the former Estée Lauder executive who joined the retailer in 2025 to advise on its beauty strategy, has left the company. The departure comes as Gap develops cosmetics, fragrance and personal care across its brands, including a growing beauty assortment at Old Navy.
Demsey joined Gap Inc. as executive director of beauty, advising on plans to build cosmetics, fragrance and personal care into additional growth categories. Gap confirmed his departure, but did not give a reason, specify when he left or announce who will take over his responsibilities, according to Global Cosmetics News.
During his tenure, Old Navy added about 40 third-party beauty brands, including E.l.f. Cosmetics, Neutrogena and TonyMoly. The retailer also offered its own bath and body collection. Separately, Gap relaunched its fragrance range with five scents inspired by its 1994 collection.
Gap says beauty remains a strategic growth opportunity and that the category has performed particularly well through Old Navy’s checkout channels. The company has not provided sales figures or explained how Demsey’s exit will affect the pace or scope of its plans.
Beauty’s Role in Gap’s Retail Strategy
The leadership change comes while Gap is moving from developing a beauty strategy toward expanding the products available to customers across its retail portfolio. The company’s work at Old Navy and the Gap fragrance relaunch show that its approach includes both third-party products and retailer-linked offerings.
For shoppers, the expansion brings cosmetics and personal care into apparel retail settings, including checkout areas where Gap says the category has performed well. For Gap, beauty is a potential additional revenue category as it broadens what customers can buy in its stores and through its brands. The company has not shared figures that would show the category’s contribution to revenue or profitability.
Demsey’s departure leaves an unanswered question about who will guide the next stage. Gap’s stated interest in beauty does not, on its own, establish that the company will change its plans; the retailer has said the category remains a strategic opportunity.
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From Strategy to Store Assortments
Gap’s beauty push includes activity across more than one brand. At Old Navy, the company expanded the selection with approximately 40 outside labels and its own bath and body products. At Gap, it brought back a fragrance range with five scents tied to the brand’s original 1994 collection.
Demsey’s appointment in 2025 placed a former senior beauty-industry executive in an advisory role as Gap considered how to develop cosmetics, fragrance and personal care. His departure is now a change in leadership during that wider effort. The available report does not describe specific milestones for further expansion or identify which Gap brands may receive new beauty products next.
“Beauty remains a strategic growth opportunity.”
— Gap Inc., as reported by Global Cosmetics News
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Departure Details Still Undisclosed
Gap has not stated why Demsey left, when his departure took effect or whether he resigned or was dismissed. The company has not named a successor or said whether another executive will assume his advisory responsibilities.
Gap also has not disclosed beauty sales, margins, customer demand figures or a timeline for further product launches. The reported performance at Old Navy checkout channels is a company characterization; the available information does not include a comparison baseline, reporting period or underlying data.
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Awaiting Gap’s Next Beauty Plans
The next details to watch are whether Gap names a new beauty lead and how it develops the category across Old Navy, Gap and its other brands. The company has not announced a timetable for either decision.
Further updates from Gap could clarify whether it plans to add brands or products, extend its fragrance and personal-care ranges, or share sales information. For now, the company’s stated position is that beauty remains a growth opportunity, while the operational plans after Demsey’s exit remain unannounced.
third-party beauty brands at Old Navy
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Key Questions
Who is John Demsey?
Demsey is a former Estée Lauder executive who joined Gap Inc. in 2025 as executive director of beauty, advising on cosmetics, fragrance and personal care strategy.
Has Gap Inc. explained why Demsey left?
No. Gap confirmed his departure but has not disclosed the circumstances or timing.
Has Gap named a replacement?
No replacement has been announced. Gap has not said who will take over Demsey’s responsibilities.
What beauty products has Gap added?
Old Navy added approximately 40 third-party brands, including E.l.f. Cosmetics, Neutrogena and TonyMoly, alongside its own bath and body collection. Gap also relaunched a fragrance range with five scents inspired by its 1994 collection.
Is Gap ending its beauty expansion?
There is no announcement that it is ending the effort. Gap says beauty remains a strategic growth opportunity, but has not detailed its next steps or a schedule.
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