A graduate of Bowdoin College, Gorman began working at the company after Navy destroyer service and a trainee job a Filene's department store. Gorman became president in 1967 after his grandfather Leon Leonwood Bean died. From that time until his presidency ended in 2001, Gorman helped pioneer the company's mail order businees and saw an average annual 20% growth rate for the company.

In 2001, when Gorman decided to take the position of Chairman of the Board, leaving the position of CEO to Christopher McCormick, the first non-family member to assume the title.