Overview

Jim Fielding is a board director, former Fortune 500 CEO, and global consumer brand executive who has led multibillion-dollar retail and entertainment platforms, including serving as Chief Executive Officer of Claire’s Stores and as President of Disney Stores Worldwide for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Over a 35+ year career spanning Disney, DreamWorks Animation, 20th Century Fox, and The Gap, Inc. (NYSE: GAP), Fielding has driven large-scale retail transformation, expanded international brand footprints, and integrated merchandising, licensing, and experiential strategy to strengthen growth and cultural relevance across global markets. His leadership experience bridges specialty retail, global consumer products, and franchise-driven brand ecosystems.

Career History

Fielding currently serves on the Board of Directors of Xcel Brands (NASDAQ: XELB), a publicly traded fashion and media company, and leads an executive advisory practice serving global brands, founders, and C-suite leaders. He advises on experiential retail, brand development, and licensing and merchandising strategy for organizations, including the Los Angeles Clippers/Intuit Dome, WildBrain, and Nearest Green Distillery, counseling on immersive fan engagement, consumer strategy, and long-term brand equity creation. In parallel, he partners with senior executives navigating pivotal transitions and organizational change, integrating commercial rigor with values-driven leadership.

As Chief Executive Officer of Claire’s Stores, Fielding led the global accessories retailer through a critical repositioning, modernizing brand strategy, strengthening customer engagement, and reinforcing operational discipline across a competitive specialty retail environment.

Previously, as President of Disney Stores Worldwide, Fielding oversaw Disney’s global retail footprint, leading strategy and operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. During his tenure at The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), he advanced the integration of franchise storytelling with retail and consumer products, elevating in-store experience and reinforcing brand consistency across international markets.

Earlier in his career, Fielding held senior leadership roles at DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox, directing global merchandising and franchise strategies tied to major entertainment properties. At The Gap, Inc. (NYSE: GAP), he developed foundational expertise in specialty retail operations, brand positioning, and international growth that informed his later executive leadership roles.

Personal

Fielding is the bestselling author of All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive’s Journey to Living and Leading Authentically (2023). His perspectives on leadership and inclusion have been featured in Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal. In 2025, he delivered a TEDx talk on radical kindness as a competitive leadership advantage. He hosts the podcast Ask for an Answer with Jim Fielding and is currently writing his second book. Fielding received a B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University Bloomington and completed his executive coaching education at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. In 2025, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indiana University College of Arts & Sciences in recognition of his professional achievement and philanthropic leadership. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Indiana University Foundation, where he chairs the Queer Philanthropy Circle, and supports LGBTQ+ organizations, including The Trevor Project and Point Foundation. Based in Atlanta, Fielding resides with his husband, Dr. Joseph Langham, and their dogs, Cricket and Olive.