Promotions in Polo Retail

Bridget Ryan Berman, president of Polo Factory Store Concepts at Polo Ralph Lauren (New York), has been promoted to president and coo of the Polo Retail Group. She'll be responsible for both Polo Retail Corp. and Polo Factory Store Concepts, reporting directly to corporate president and coo Roger Farah.

The company said that one of Ryan Berman's first initiatives will be to implement and direct a shared-service business model, a new management initiative for Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. designed to enhance efficiency and cost effectiveness of Polo Retail Group. The retail corporation and Factory Store Concepts will continue to function as separate businesses with responsibility for their individual marketing, merchandising, store operations and visual presentation activities. But there will be cooperational services in finance, human resources, merchandise operations and real estate.

In a related move, Charles Fagan has been named president of Polo Retail Corp. He will continue to oversee merchandising, planning, store-line operations and visual presentation for all full-price Polo Retail stores. He will report to both Farah and Ryan Berman.

Ryan Berman began her career at Polo Ralph Lauren in 1992. As president of Polo Factory Store Concepts, she was responsible for all Polo Ralph Lauren and Polo Jeans Co. outlet stores. An announcement of her successor for this position is forthcoming. Fagan joined Polo Ralph Lauren in 1986 and most recently was executive vp of Polo Retail Corp.

Polo Ralph Lauren operates about 140 Polo stores in the U.S., and licenses more than 100 others worldwide, selling its wide assortment of apparel, home, accessories and fragrances products under such brand names as Polo by Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, RALPH by Ralph Lauren, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Polo Jeans Co. Ralph Lauren and Chaps Ralph Lauren. It also owns Club Monaco, a vertical lifestyle retailer based in Toronto.