Nasty Gal #GIRLBOSS Sophia Amoruso Steps Down as CEO

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Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso is no longer Nasty Gal's official #GIRLBOSS. Re/Code reports that the New York Times best-selling author is stepping down as Nasty Gal CEO and appointing current Nasty Gal president and experienced retail exec Sheree Waterson as the brand's new CEO. Amoruso told Re/Code that the decision was hers alone, and she will stay on as Nasty Gal's executive chairman overseeing the creative and brand marketing teams.

2014 was a challenging year for Nasty Gal. The brand let staffers go during several rounds of layoffs, and anonymous employees complained bitterly about the retailer's management in both Glassdoor forums and anonymous tips to Racked. One poster wrote, "Personally I would say it's time for the face to step aside and let someone come in who knows how to make it profitable again."

Waterson was hired with the idea that she might take over as CEO. Amoruso alluded to the idea of letting go in her interview with Re/Code, saying she thought Nasty Gal needed a CEO with the expertise to take the retailer to the next level. "I'm not even a parent. I hope to someday be the leader that Sheree is," Amoruso told Re/Code.

Nasty Gal board member Danny Rimer told Re/Code: "In terms of the decision, it really was something that Sophia wanted to do. She said to me, 'I see that there are two customers of Nasty Gal. The customer that is girl and customer that is employee. I want to focus on the girl.' It shows a level of maturity that she knows what she can do well and what others can do better than her."
· Anonymous Tipsters Say Nasty Gal's Work Environment Is Terrible [Racked]
· Nasty Gal Employees Say Sophia Amoruso's a Bad GirlBoss [Racked]