NEW YORK, May 12, 2006 – Francesca Schuler, a former Vice President of Global Brand Management at Gap, Inc., has joined Marakon Associates as a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office. Marakon is a leading strategy consultancy that works with the top management of some of the world’s best-known companies.

Schuler, a Marakon alumna who left the firm in 2000 to join Gap, will advise the firm’s clients on growth, strategy and execution issues, particularly in the retail and consumer goods sectors. Marakon’s publicly known clients (past and present) in those industries include Nordstrom, Gillette, Cadbury Schweppes and Diageo. Other clients include Boeing, BP, Cardinal Health, Barclays and Roche.

"Francesca brings a unique mix of brand and marketing savvy, strategy and execution expertise, and leadership and senior management experience," said Marakon Chief Executive Ken Favaro. "We are thrilled to have her back and look forward to her help in further enhancing the capabilities we offer our clients."

After joining Gap in 2000 as a director in its Corporate Strategy Group, Schuler was quickly promoted to Senior Director and shortly thereafter was given leadership of the entire Corporate Strategy organization. In April 2002, she moved into the Gap brand and became the VP of Global Brand Management, where she was responsible for marketing strategy, brand positioning, media and direct marketing for Gap globally. Starting in April 2004, she focused exclusively on North America.

Schuler said she chose Marakon over other consulting firms and other corporate opportunities because of the firm’s distinctive offer and people. "Marakon’s consultants bring a general management, customer-oriented perspective and a focus on value that are truly unique among consulting firms," she said. "Their expertise in linking strategy, execution and organizational capabilities and their promise of ‘fresh advice, lasting impact’ are incredibly relevant for consumer and retail companies."

She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Patz & Hall, a Napa winery, and has served as an advisor to several retail companies in the Bay area.

Following are more details:

Francesca Schuler first joined Marakon in 1996 as a summer consultant, returning as a full-time consultant in 1997. After being promoted to manager, she left Marakon and joined Gap, Inc. in April 2000 as a director in its Corporate Strategy Group. Schuler was soon promoted to Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and in June 2001, she was given leadership of the entire Gap Inc. Corporate Strategy organization. Her focus was on managing the strategy development process for the corporation, overseeing centralized customer and marketing effectiveness efforts and managing cross-brand initiatives. In 2002, she was promoted to VP of Global Brand Management for Gap brand. She left Gap in 2005 and worked as an independent consultant advising companies in the San Francisco area. Schuler holds a BA with Honors from Brown University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to attending Wharton, she worked in a management role at E&J Gallo Winery and as a corporate finance associate at Glenthore Capital and Orca Capital.

For additional information, please contact Aviva Tropp at Marakon Associates, +1 212 377 5084.

About Marakon Associates:
Marakon Associates is an international management consulting firm that works with senior executives of large companies on the issues that most drive corporate performance and long-term value. The Economist has called it "a consultancy that has advised some of the world’s most consistently successful companies." Marakon has offices in New York, London, Singapore, Chicago and San Francisco.