PORTLAND, Ore.— Pendleton Woolen Mills has appointed Jennifer Ingraffea its new CEO. Ingraffea, who most recently served as chief product and merchandising officer at The North Face, will officially assume the role in July.
Pendleton, which has been weaving textiles since 1863 and is known for its iconic blankets and throws, has been led by the Bishop family for over a century, most recently by fifth generation family member John Bishop, the company’s current CEO and president, and previously by his cousin, Mort Bishop III, also a fifth-generation family member. Ingraffea is the third outside CEO in company history, and the first woman to serve in the role.
At The North Face, Ingraffea led a global team in delivering “innovative, customer-first products” and built a “high-performing culture,” according to Pendleton.
“Her approach is grounded in curiosity, continuous improvement, and a passion for creating market-relevant assortments that resonate with today’s consumer,” it added.
Prior to her role at The North Face, Ingraffea spent 19 years at Nike in various executive leadership roles, including her last role as Global VP of Kids Footwear.
Ingraffea was selected in a long and thoughtful search process, the company said.
“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.”
“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.”
Under Bishop’s leadership, Pendleton refocused and reduced product offerings, aligned the brand across channels and product lines, and managed cost systems, Pendleton said. He joined Pendleton full-time in 1982 working at the company’s woolen mill in New Hampshire before returning to Oregon to run Mill Fabric Sales, Home and Apparel Manufacturing in 1995. He served as Chairman of the Board before being appointed to his current position in 2017. Bishop will remain with the company as Chairman of the Board to ensure a smooth transition.
