Michael Prendergast

Mr. Prendergast is an innovative leader who identifies top-line revenue growth vehicles while maximizing profit within complex organizations. He has a proven track record working across all major retail segments including wholesale, retail, and e-commerce and is an expert in the successful operation of processes throughout the supply chain (from product concept design through delivery to customer). He has extensive experience in merchandising, sourcing, marketing, sales force optimization and customer retention.
Mr. Prendergast has a proven track record of securing opportunities for improvement in businesses, building strategies for the execution of these initiatives, and leading teams to deliver results. He built his career on combining strategic vision with implementation and delivering results.
Recently, as interim CEO of a 700+ store, $500 million annual revenue, US based women’s multi category retailer, Mr. Prendergast led the restructuring and turnaround, and re-establishment of a fast fashion format business. He built a data and analytics system to align buyer choices with customer demand, reduced SGA and store labor expenses, and optimized the real estate portfolio. This resulted within a year time frame ~$12 million in EBITDA improvement, stabilized comp sales/margins, and 70+ percent increase in stock price.
Previously, as CEO of a youth-focused fast fashion multi-category company, Mr. Prendergast led strategic decisions, tactical activities, and M&A to grow revenue, EBITDA and equity value. He led a team that reduced the product procurement lifecycle time to 45 days from design concept through delivery to customer for 100 percent of their products. Under his tenure, the company achieved revenue and profit growth on a multi-year basis. Prior to that, as CEO of a $400 million annual global celebrity lifestyle brand, he delivered optimization of resources daily. He led the opening of retail stores across the country, expanded the international footprint and managed an extensive licensed portfolio that generated over $30 million annual in royalty revenue.
Mr. Prendergast earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from The University of Phoenix and completed executive training courses at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.