Pendleton Woolen Mills has found its next leader.
The Portland, Ore.-based brand, which was founded in 1863 and is still owned by the sixth generation of the founding family, has named Jennifer Ingraffea chief executive officer. She will assume the position in July.
She succeeds John Bishop, the fifth generation of the family to helm the company, and is the first female to hold that post. Bishop revealed his retirement in February and the company has been searching for a successor since then. Bishop will remain as CEO through July to work with Ingraffea, at which point he will transition to chairman of the board.
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Bishop began working at the company’s woolen mill in New Hampshire in 1982 before returning to Oregon to run mill fabric sales, home and apparel manufacturing in 1995. He served as chairman of the board before succeeding his cousin Mort Bishop 3rd as CEO in 2017.
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“We set a high bar for this search and are excited to have exceeded it,” said John Bishop. “From our earliest conversations it was clear Jenn’s magnetic presence, her leadership style grounded in mentorship, and her ability to unite teams around a shared vision made her a natural fit for Pendleton. Jenn brings a decades-long career rooted in global product merchandising, and we look forward to her leading us in delivering compelling, market-relevant products to our customers.”
Ingraffea has more than 25 years of experience in the apparel industry, serving most recently as chief product and merchandising officer at The North Face. Before that, she spent 19 years with Nike in various roles, including global vice president of kids footwear.
“When I moved to the Pacific Northwest over two decades ago, Pendleton was one of the first brands that caught my attention. The history, legacy and unparalleled craftsmanship drew me in immediately,” Ingraffea said. “Now, I have the incredible opportunity to help shape its next chapter — to guide the brand toward the full promise of its potential.”