Brands
Laura Ashley
Gordon Brothers, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm that owns Laura Ashley, hired Carolyn D’Angelo as managing director of brands and president of the British lifestyle brand.
Based in New York City, D’Angelo will lead new development and licensing opportunities within the equity and debt portfolios for the brands team. As president of Laura Ashley, D’Angelo will lead the British home and lifestyle brand as it continues to develop and expand categories and geographies within the consumer home and fashion sectors.
After acquiring the Laura Ashley brand, archives and related intellectual property in April 2020. and announcing the partnership with Next plc in October, Laura Ashley launched its Spring 2021 collection online and in select Next stores in March.
Gordon Brothers’ other recent global brand transactions include bridge financing for American retailer Brooks Brothers, secured term loan facilities for Nicole Miller and Mothercare and the sale of British brand Bench to Wraith, an affiliate of Apparel Brands Ltd.
Gordon Brothers lends or invests directly in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets both together and individually to provide broader solutions beyond market-leading disposition and appraisal services. The company conducts more than $70 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually.
Rockport
Rockport appointed Steve Holt as brand president. For the past four years, Holt has served as Rockport’s senior vice president of international, bringing his extensive background in the footwear sector and expertise in international business to grow the Rockport brand around the globe.
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In this new role, Holt will lead all aspects of daily operations, developing and executing brand plans to identify areas of global opportunity, in addition to driving strategic development.
Rockport offers products for both men and women, from wear-to-work and casual shoes to walking and outdoor styles. Rockport and its other brands–including Reef, Cobb Hill and Dunham–can be found in various retail channels in more than 60 countries worldwide.
Everlane
Shu Hung joined Everlane as global creative director, reporting to chief marketing officer Sophie Bambuck to support building out a best-in-class brand creative team, while further developing the brand’s identity and voice alongside increasing and enhancing brand awareness and aesthetic.
Shu comes to Everlane from Uniqlo, where she served as global executive creative director for five years. Shu will oversee the entire brand creative team, including the in-house production team on creative campaigns.
PVH Corp.
Dana Perlman was elevated to the role of chief strategy officer and treasurer for PVH Corp.
Perlman is responsible for leading global business strategy and development, playing a key role in helping to create, activate and articulate PVH’s go-forward strategy and ultimately driving progress and support to achieve its targets. She will focus on how PVH brands and the company will engage and connect with the consumer, drive brand relevance, take profitable market share, build further strength in platform capabilities and create value in a systematic repeatable way. She is also responsible for leading the company’s efforts around strategic activity, including mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
She continues to be responsible for the treasurer and investor relations functions, supporting the strategic financial flexibility of the company and articulating and communicating PVH’s growth story to the investment community.
Perlman joined PVH in March 2011 and was a critical partner in helping to structure and execute against the Warnaco acquisition among other strategic activity, including the buybacks of key joint venture and licensed partners from China to Australia, and the sale of Bass and Speedo from the Heritage Brands business.
Kontoor Brands
The board of directors of Kontoor Brands Inc., with a portfolio led by Wrangler and Lee, named Mark Schiller, president and CEO of The Hain Celestial Group Inc., as a director.
Schiller will serve on the audit committee of Kontoor’s board.
Retail
Tailored Brands
Tailored Brands Inc. announced the appointment of three retail veterans to its leadership team.
John Tighe was appointed executive vice president (EVP) and chief customer officer, Karla Gray has assumed the role of EVP and chief stores officer and Tim Cooksey has joined the organization as senior vice president (SVP) of real estate.
Tighe most recently served as president of Peerless Clothing, the largest manufacturer of men’s and boys’ tailored clothing in North America. Gray spent 16 years at Nike, were she most recently was vice president and general manager of the North America Nike Factory Store business.
Cooksey, who will manage the real estate portfolio and oversee store development, maintenance and facilities, comes to Tailored Brands following 15 years at Lowe’s, where he most recently served as SVP of real estate and enterprise strategic sourcing.
Tailored Brands is an omnichannel specialty retailer of men’s wear, including suits, formalwear and a broad selection of business casual offerings. Its brands include Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G Fashion Superstore.
PacSun
PacSun announced a leadership transition, with Alfred Chang, PacSun president, and Michael Relich, interim CEO of PSEB Group, elevated to co-CEOs, and Brieane Olson, PacSun’s chief brand officer, promoted to president.
Chang has served as president of PacSun since 2018. Relich has been as interim CEO of PSEB Group, which owns PacSun and Eddie Bauer, since August. Olson has served as chief brand officer of PacSun since July.
As co-CEOs, Chang and Relich will have distinct oversight of key business functions. Chang will be responsible for setting and driving PacSun’s brand strategy, including design, merchandising, marketing, retail and e-commerce. Relich will oversee operations, including sourcing and supply chain, distribution, planning and allocation, IT, finance, legal and human resources. Both will serve on the PacSun board of directors.
As president, Olson will continue to have oversight of merchandising and design for men’s and women’s, as well as brand marketing and creative.
Authentic Brands Group and SPARC Group LLC entered into an agreement Friday to acquire Eddie Bauer from PSEB. Upon completion of the transaction, which is expected by June 1, Chang, Relich and Olson will assume their new roles at PacSun.
PacSun generated over $700 million in sales in 2020.
Trade
WTO
World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed of Angela Ellard of the United States, Anabel González of Costa Rica, Ambassador Jean-Marie Paugam of France and Ambassador Xiangchen Zhang of China as her four deputy directors-general.
Ellard worked in the U.S. Congress as majority and minority chief trade counsel and staff director. González served as minister of foreign trade of Costa Rica. Paugam most recently was permanent representative of France to the WTO and Zhang is currently serving as vice minister in the Ministry of Commerce of China.