United States, October 2025 – TestEquity LLC, one of the industry’s largest authorized distributors of test and measurement solutions and production supplies, has announced the appointment of Karen McGowan as Chief People Officer. In this leadership role, Karen will drive TestEquity’s people strategy, organizational culture, and talent initiatives to strengthen its position as a leader in innovation-driven industrial solutions.
Karen McGowan brings over three decades of leadership experience across global retail, consumer goods, and manufacturing sectors, with a proven track record of building agile, performance-driven organizations. She is recognized for her ability to integrate people, culture, and strategy to enable business transformation.
Before joining TestEquity, Karen served at Party City for nearly six years, where she held multiple leadership positions, including Chief Human Resources Officer, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Management. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in leading large-scale HR transformation, optimizing workforce capability, and implementing people-centric change across the organization.
Prior to Party City, Karen held the role of Head of Human Resources, Consumer Goods Business – North America at SWAROVSKI, where she managed end-to-end HR operations for retail, wholesale, and franchise divisions across the United States and Canada. She was responsible for leadership development, succession planning, and creating a culture of engagement and inclusivity across the regional business.
Karen also served as Senior Director of Global People & Development at Ralph Lauren, leading global initiatives in leadership development and organizational design. Earlier in her career, she spent over a decade at Gap Inc., where she grew through multiple leadership roles including Director of Human Resources (Logistics), Director of Human Resources (Gap Specialty), and Regional HR Manager at Banana Republic. She played a key role in shaping people practices that supported the company’s evolving retail operations and growth strategy.
Her earlier roles include leadership positions with Bath & Body Works, Wet Seal Inc., and Limited Brands, where she gained extensive experience in retail management, business development, and talent strategy. Notably, Karen also ran her own entrepreneurial venture, McGowan’s Restaurant Pizzaland, for over two decades—demonstrating her ability to combine business acumen with people-centric leadership.
About TestEquity LLC
TestEquity LLC is one of the industry’s largest authorized distributors of test and measurement solutions and production supplies, serving engineers, technicians, and innovators across industries. With a focus on precision, reliability, and customer collaboration, TestEquity provides a comprehensive range of solutions to help clients design, build, and test the technologies that power the future.
The company partners with leading global brands to deliver world-class service, ensuring customers receive both the technology and the expertise required to meet evolving challenges in engineering and production. At TestEquity, the belief is clear: highly specialized technology demands highly personalized service—a philosophy that drives their commitment to innovation and excellence.
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