Abercrombie & Fitch’s Fran Horowitz to Receive NRF Visionary Award
- David Moin
- Sep 24
- 2 min read
Since becoming A&F's CEO in 2017, she's led a dramatic turnaround of the business.
Fran Horowitz Sari P PHOTOGRAPHY
RETAIL VISIONARY: Fran Horowitz, the chief executive officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and the architect of the specialty retailer’s dramatic and sustained turnaround, will receive the National Retail Federation’s “Visionary Award” at the 11th annual NRF Foundation Honors dinner on Jan. 11, 2026, in New York City.
“Fran Horowitz recognizes the value of building authentic, customer-centric retail brands — a vision that has transformed Abercrombie & Fitch Co.,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement. “Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister remain iconic names at the heart of retail, and under Fran’s leadership and direction, the company continues to grow and thrive.”
Horowitz has served as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. since 2017. She joined the company in 2014 as president of its Hollister brand and was promoted to president and chief merchandising officer for Abercrombie & Fitch Co. in 2015. Prior to joining the company, Horowitz served as brand president at Ann Taylor Loft, executive vice president at Express Inc. and held merchandising roles at Bloomingdale’s.
Under her leadership, the success of A&F can be attributed to a number of factors, including an increased focus on listening to its customers, strong product acceptance, strong social media, and rationalizing and improving the store fleet.
“Our incredible team at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has executed one of the most successful turnarounds in retail, and leading this work has been the highlight of my career,” Horowitz said in a statement. “From our iconic global brands, to our operating model, to our company’s culture, we’ve reexamined and rebuilt every aspect of our business, all while leading with purpose and keeping our customer at the center of every decision. I’m beyond proud of our global team for all they do to drive our business forward and it is an honor for NRF to recognize A&F Co.’s remarkable achievements.”
Horowitz will also be in a fireside chat with Shay on Jan. 12 at the NRF’s annual convention and trade expo called “Retail’s Big Show” in New York City.
Previous recipients of The Visionary award include designer Tommy Hilfiger, Ed Stack, Marvin Ellison, Brian Cornell, Michelle Gass, Mark Parker, Doug McMillon and Chip Bergh. The NRF Foundation promotes retail as a career and provides resources and scholarships to help those seeking careers in the industry.
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