Our Team

Bill Fisher

William S. Fisher

Bill Fisher, CEO and Founder Bill served as the Founder and President of the International Division for GAP Inc, expanding the Company into Canada, Japan and Europe. He started Manzanita Capital in 2001. Currently, Bill lives in San Francisco, California and has previously lived in Canada and France.

Education: Bill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Princeton University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Stanford University.

Chris Garek

Chris Garek

President and Representative Director of Gap Japan K.K. from its inception until 2006. Together with Bill, he established the GAP and Banana Republic brands in Japan following the success the two had in building GAP in Canada.

Education: Chris graduated from Columbia University.

Andras Szirtes

Andras Szirtes

Prior to joining Manzanita, Andras served as a board director of various retail companies including Hamleys, Jane Norman, All Saints, Magasin du Nord, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths, Julian Graves, DAY Birger, and Illum. Additionally Andras has been the chairman of eCommera an ecommerce provider and Souk a fashion mall. He also held various operating roles at Gap Inc. in San Francisco and at Pepsi Cola and acted as an advisor to Pacific Community Ventures, a socially responsible venture capital firm.

Education: Andras has an MBA from UC Berkeley.

Paula Levitan

Paula Levitan

Paula was formerly a partner in the London office of a large US law firm, where she led the retail practice. Prior to that, she worked with Bill and Chris as Gap’s International Division lawyer where she helped launch the business in Japan as well as France and Germany. Paula is licensed to practice law in England and Wales as well as New York and California.

Education: Paula graduated from the University of Michigan and obtained her JD with honours from Wayne State University Law School.

Harry Richards

Harry Richards

Prior to joining Manzanita, Harry was a business analyst with Value Retail, the leading owner/operator of designer outlet malls. There he primarily focused on the expansion and development of the business in China.

Education: Harry has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from Oxford University.

Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnston

Prior to joining Manzanita, Matthew was Finance Director at Trinity Limited a listed owner and operator of menswear brands including Gieves & Hawkes; Kent & Curwen; and Cerruti 1881.  Before this he held various roles at Fung Capital, the private investment vehicle for the Fung family of Hong Kong

Education: Matthew qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC; he is a CFA Charterholder; and graduated from Trinity College, at the University of Toronto, with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History & Economics.