Heather Salvatore Gruccio is a skilled merchant leader who has defined her career by balancing strategy and creativity to evolve product and brands to meet the needs of working women.  

Heather began her career at Coach in 2003. Over the course of nine years, she developed and honed her merchandising skills supporting various product categories. She rose quickly through the organization and was ultimately named the Senior Director of Merchandising, Licensed Categories. In 2012, Heather moved to Tory Burch to expand her mid-luxury fashion experience. While there, she became known for her agility and ability to influence product and teams. She held positions with increasing responsibility leading to her role as Senior Director of Buying, Direct to Consumer, Shoes, Accessories and Ready to Wear. To continue building her career, Heather left Tory Burch in 2016 to join Ann Taylor as the Senior Director of Merchandising, Non-Apparel at a pivotal moment in the brand. In a short time, she was able to strengthen the non-Apparel business and position all categories for future growth by improving product acceptance and increasing the brands investment in fashion.  

Throughout her career, Heather has demonstrated remarkable merchandising savvy. She also has a proven record of organizing and orchestrating teams to move a business forward. In 2017, she was promoted to VP of Merchandising at Ann Taylor and was named SVP, GMM of Merchandising for Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Factory in 2020. In 2025, Heather’s efforts to re-energize the Ann Taylor brand from product to projection were recognized and she was elevated to her current role as EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer for Ann Taylor.  Together with her team, she is now focused on delivering Ann Taylor’s mission to live up to the expectations of today’s accomplished woman through inspirational style, a personalized experience, and a belief that empowered women empower women. 

Heather has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wake Forest University. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.