Brian Hooper
Sr Dir - MPA Applications, Process and Technology
New York, New York, United States
Professional Overview
Brian Hooper is an accomplished retail technology and operations executive with over 20 years of experience driving strategic initiatives and process improvements across global organizations. As the Sr Director of MPA Applications, Process and Technology at J.Crew, he oversees the development, implementation and optimization of the company's merchandising, planning and allocation systems and workflows. Hooper is a proven leader in aligning technology solutions with core business objectives to enhance operational efficiency, data-driven decision making and omnichannel customer experiences.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As Sr Director of MPA Applications, Process and Technology at J.Crew, Hooper is responsible for managing the strategy, development and continuous improvement of the company's critical merchandising, planning and allocation (MPA) systems and processes. He leads a team of talented business analysts and subject matter experts to design and implement technology-enabled solutions that support the organization's merchandising, inventory management and demand forecasting capabilities. Under Hooper's leadership, J.Crew has achieved significant productivity gains, inventory optimization and enhanced customer service through the modernization of its MPA infrastructure.
Career Progression
Prior to his current role, Hooper held several leadership positions within the retail industry, including Sr Director of Analytics, Enterprise Systems and Process at J.Crew, Director of Analytics at ANN INC., and various roles at Gap Inc. overseeing inventory management, distribution and logistics planning for the Old Navy brand in the U.S. and Canada. Throughout his career, Hooper has demonstrated a knack for identifying opportunities to leverage data and technology to drive operational efficiencies, improve decision-making and enhance the overall customer experience.
Academic Background
Hooper holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute. He has also completed executive education programs in retail strategy, supply chain management and change leadership.
Areas of Expertise
- Retail technology and applications management
- Merchandising, planning and allocation (MPA) optimization
- Omnichannel inventory management and reporting
- Business process redesign and workflow automation
- Data-driven decision making and advanced analytics
- Cross-functional leadership and change management
Professional Impact
Throughout his career, Hooper has spearheaded numerous high-impact initiatives that have transformed retail operations and enhanced business performance. At J.Crew, he led the implementation of a new cloud-based MPA platform that improved inventory visibility, streamlined planning processes and enabled more accurate demand forecasting - resulting in a 12% reduction in markdowns and a 15% increase in inventory turns. At ANN INC., Hooper developed a centralized, enterprise-wide inventory management system that drove a 20% improvement in fill rates and a 35% reduction in stockouts across the company's portfolio of brands.
Conclusion
With his deep expertise in retail technology, operations and data-driven decision making, Brian Hooper is a versatile leader poised to drive continued innovation and operational excellence at J.Crew. His track record of delivering measurable business impact through the strategic application of systems and processes makes him a valuable asset in the ever-evolving retail landscape.
