Kelly Cortina
About Kelly Cortina
Kelly Cortina serves as the VP of Global Apparel Merchandising & Development at The North Face, where she has worked since 2020. With extensive experience in product management and merchandising across various companies, including Under Armour and Abercrombie & Fitch, she is recognized for her strategic thinking and ability to drive results.
Current Role at The North Face
Kelly Cortina serves as the Vice President of Global Apparel Merchandising & Development at The North Face, a VF Company. She has held this position since 2020 and is based in Denver, Colorado. In her role, she focuses on overseeing the merchandising and development of apparel, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic goals. Her leadership emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion within teams to drive business outcomes.
Previous Experience at Under Armour
Prior to her current role, Cortina held multiple positions at Under Armour. She served as the Director of Product Creation from 2005 to 2014, and later as Senior Director of UA Retail from 2011 to 2014. She also worked as Vice President of Global Merchandising, Center of Excellence from 2016 to 2018, and as Vice President of Specialty Retail & Ecommerce Merchandising for a brief period in 2014. Additionally, she was the Vice President of Women's Product Management & Design from 2014 to 2016.
Experience at Abercrombie & Fitch
Cortina began her career in merchandising and product management at Abercrombie & Fitch, where she worked from 2001 to 2005. This role provided her with foundational experience in the retail industry, contributing to her later success in various leadership positions.
Education and Academic Background
Kelly Cortina studied at Colgate University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from 1997 to 2001. She furthered her education at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, completing a program in 2017. Additionally, she attended Hopkins School from 1993 to 1997.
Skills and Professional Focus
Cortina is recognized for her strong skills in organizational design and strategic thinking. She has a proven ability to commercialize products and manage go-to-market processes effectively. Her entrepreneurial approach has led to the development of new business initiatives, and she is known for her capability to predict and anticipate market trends.