Samantha McCandless

Chief Merchandising Officer The RealReal

Samantha McCandless is a seasoned fashion and retail executive with more than 25 years of leadership in digital strategy, omni-channel merchandising, and large-scale operational management. As Chief Merchandising Officer at The RealReal, she oversees omni merchandising across site and stores, including digital and editorial merchandising, pricing, planning, retail operations, and strategic partnerships—helping shape the company’s growth, customer experience, and fashion direction. 

Prior to joining The RealReal, McCandless held senior roles including Vice President of Digital at Old Navy, where she led digital buying, site merchandising, and e-commerce strategy, and Vice President of e-Commerce at Gymboree. Earlier in her career, she contributed to the growth and expansion of major national brands such as GAP Inc., GUESS, and Williams-Sonoma. She began her career in management consulting, bringing a rigorous, analytics-driven approach to innovation in retail. 

A strong advocate for the circular economy, McCandless leads The RealReal’s collaborations with sustainability-focused brands. She holds dual degrees in International Business and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California.