Management team

Craig A. Leavitt, a director of the Board since 2018, is serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer until Mr. Vince Tyra assumes his new position as President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 12, 2024. Mr. Leavitt has had a career as a business leader in the retail sector that spans over 30 years. Mr. Leavitt most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade & Company, a designer and marketer of fashion accessories and apparel, from 2014 to 2017, where he oversaw all aspects of the Kate Spade New York and Jack Spade businesses and was a member of Kate Spade’s Board of Directors. He first joined Kate Spade in 2008 as Co-President and Chief Operating Officer and was named Chief Executive Officer in 2010. Mr. Leavitt led the successful $2.4 billion divestiture of Kate Spade & Company to Coach, Inc. in 2017 and integrated his team into the new company. Previously, Mr. Leavitt was President of Global Retail at Link Theory Holdings, a company that manufactures and sells contemporary clothing and accessories for men and women. At Link Theory Holdings, Mr. Leavitt was responsible for merchandising, operations, planning, allocation and real estate for the Theory and Helmut Lang retail businesses. He also spent several years at Diesel, an Italian retail clothing company, where he was most recently Executive Vice-President of Sales and Retail, and he spent 16 years at Polo Ralph Lauren, known for its clothing, marketing and distribution of products in apparel, home accessories and fragrances, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including Executive Vice President of Retail Concepts. Mr. Leavitt is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc., a global, interactive retail destination for creating customizable stuffed animals. He was also a member of the board of Crate & Barrel, an industry-leading home furnishings specialty retailer until 2023. Mr. Leavitt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College.

Rhodri J. Harries joined Gildan in August 2015 as Executive Vice-President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Prior to joining Gildan, Mr. Harries served as the Chief Financial Officer of Rio Tinto Alcan since 2014, where previously he held the position of Chief Commercial Officer from 2009 to 2013. Mr. Harries joined Alcan in Montréal in 2004 as the Vice-President and Corporate Treasurer and remained with the company following its acquisition by Rio Tinto in 2007. Prior to joining Alcan, Mr. Harries spent 15 years in North America, Asia and Europe with General Motors, where he held successive positions of increasing responsibility in finance and business development. He is accountable for the Company’s financial management as well as overseeing corporate development and corporate affairs, and information technology. He is also currently on the board of The CSL Group and Stella-Jones Inc.

Benito A. Masi has been involved in apparel manufacturing in North America for over 30 years. He joined Gildan in 1986 and since then has held various positions in the Company. He was appointed Vice-President, Apparel Manufacturing in February 2001. In August 2004, he was appointed Executive Vice-President, Apparel Manufacturing and his title was changed to Executive Vice-President, Manufacturing in January 2005. In conjunction with the consolidation of the Printwear and Branded Apparel operating segments, Mr. Masi’s title has been changed to President, Manufacturing. Mr. Masi is responsible for the strategic and operational performance of the Company’s worldwide manufacturing facilities and supply chain.

Chuck J. Ward joined Gildan in April 2011 as part of the acquisition of GoldToe Moretz Holdings Corp., where he had served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Upon joining Gildan, Mr. Ward served as Vice President, Integration leading the integration of GoldToe into Gildan. In 2012, Mr. Ward was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Yarn Spinning and was responsible for leading the strategic development and operations of Gildan’s yarn spinning facilities. In 2020, Mr. Ward was appointed to the role of Senior Vice-President, North America where he was responsible for sales, distribution and planning for the North American market. In 2021, Mr. Ward was appointed to the role of President, Sales, Marketing and Distribution.

Arun D. Bajaj joined Gildan in October 2019 as Chief Human Resources Officer. In March 2021, he was appointed to the role of EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer & Legal Affairs of the Company. In this role he leads the global human resources function and oversees legal affairs. Mr. Bajaj has over 27 years of extensive experience in those two functions. Prior to joining Gildan, Mr. Bajaj held the position of Senior Vice-President, Chief Human Resources Officer at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. He also held several positions in Canada, the US, and Asia with the Nissan Motor Corporation. During his career at Nissan, Mr. Bajaj worked in human resources leadership roles of increasing responsibility with an emphasis on global talent management. Prior to working in human resources at Nissan, he held the role of General Counsel, Nissan Canada, following eight years in legal roles at the Ford Motor Company, based in Oakville, Ontario. He is also currently a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee of Cogeco, Inc.