Retail
Macy’s
Macy’s Inc. named Nata Dvir as chief merchandising officer of the Macy’s brand, effective Feb. 1.
Dvir will succeed Patti Ongman, who plans to retire at the end of the 2020 fiscal year. She will report to Jeff Gennette, Macy’s Inc. chairman and CEO.
Dvir currently serves as Macy’s senior vice president and general business manager for beauty and center core merchandise. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading Macy’s merchandising, with oversight of all merchandising categories and private brands. Dvir began her career as an executive trainee at Macy’s.
Tanger Factory Outlets
Tanger Factory Outlets Centers Inc. announced the implementation of the executive succession plan initially outlined in April.
As of Jan. 1, Steven B. Tanger has transitioned to executive chair of the company’s board of directors, effective through Jan. 1, 2024, and Stephen Yalof has assumed the role of CEO of the Company. David B. Henry, previously non-executive chair of the board, has been appointed lead director.
In 1984, Tanger joined Stanley K. Tanger as the company’s fourth employee. At that time, Tanger had seven centers in six states totaling approximately 344,000 square feet. With over 40 years of experience in the outlet industry, Tanger Outlets has grown to include 38 centers in 20 states and Canada, totaling approximately 14.1 million square feet, and hosts more than 180 million visitors annually.
Yalof joined Tanger Outlets as president and chief operating officer in April. Prior to Tanger, he served as CEO of Simon Premium Outlets since 2014.
Foot Locker
Foot Locker Inc. appointed Himanshu Parikh as senior vice president (SVP) and chief information officer.
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Parikh will oversee the execution of the next generation of Foot Locker’s strategic technology agenda in support of the company’s key strategic imperatives and future capability-building and innovation. Parikh will have operational responsibility for Foot Locker’s technology and infrastructure, and he will work closely with the senior executive team to streamline processes, as well as evaluate and implement new and integrated systems and tools across the organization critical to the company’s omni-channel initiatives.
Most recently, he served as SVP and chief technology officer at The Michaels Companies. Prior to that, Parikh held several executive roles with Ross Stores.
Foot Locker Inc.’s portfolio of brands including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Eastbay, Footaction and Sidestep, combining for approximately 3,000 retail stores in 28 countries, as well as websites and mobile apps.
Brands
Filson
Outdoor apparel manufacturer Filson named Paolo Corinaldesi as CEO, making him the sixth CEO in the brand’s 124-year history.
Corinaldesi joins Filson as part of his role with WP Lavori, the international apparel brand licensee, distributor and retail group, which invested in Filson last year. Most recently, Corinaldesi served as a global strategist with WP Lavori, working with brands such as Blundstone, Baracuta and Barbour. Prior to that, Corinaldesi was CEO of Woolrich International, where he managed the merger of the brand’s U.S. and European business, led the exploration of international partnerships and oversaw the development of the brand’s retail sales network.
Filson’s signature materials, such as heavyweight tin cloth, Mackinaw wool and rugged twill, offer tough and dependable clothing that has established itself among hunters, anglers, explorers and those that enjoy the outdoors.
Detroit-based Bedrock Manufacturing Company is the parent company of Filson. Founder Tom Kartsotis will continue to oversee Filson and work alongside Corinaldesi and Carleton to build the business. Corinaldesi’s focus will be on operations, finance and sales, while Carleton will manage brand marketing, product and merchandising. In 2020, WP Lavori made a multimillion-dollar investment, acquiring 10 percent of the company, to partner with Bedrock and support Filson’s future growth opportunities.
Wolverine
Wolverine World Wide Inc. appointed Matt Blonder as president of global e-commerce. Blonder will report to Brendan Hoffman, Wolverine Worldwide’s president.
Blonder was most recently global head of digital at Reebok, a division of Adidas.
The company’s portfolio includes Merrell, Sperry, Hush Puppies, Saucony, Wolverine, Keds, Stride Rite, Chaco, Bates and Hytest. Wolverine Worldwide is also the global footwear licensee of the Cat and Harley-Davidson brands. Based in Rockford, Mich., the company’s products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 170 countries and territories.
Columbia Sportswear
Columbia Sportswear Company announced that its board of directors appointed John Culver to serve as a director and member of its compensation committee.
Culver currently serves as Starbucks Corp.’s group president of international, channel development and global coffee, tea and cocoa, and is a member of the Starbucks executive leadership team. He has responsibility for leading Starbucks retail growth and operations in 60 markets across China, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and growth for the Global Channel Development business that includes Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Foodservice and Evolution Fresh.
Culver serves on the board of directors and audit committee of Kimberly-Clark and is a director of The Mission Continues, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit that empowers veterans to continue their service, leveraging their talent and skills to generate visible impact for communities.
Steve Madden
Steve Madden announced that María Teresa Kumar joined its board of directors. Kumar’s appointment expands the board to 10 directors, eight of whom are independent directors.
Kumar will be a member of the board’s corporate social responsibility committee. She is president and CEO of Voto Latino, which she co-founded in 2004 and built into America’s largest Latinx voter registration and advocacy organization.
Steve Madden designs, sources and markets fashion-forward footwear, accessories and apparel for women, men and children. In addition to marketing products under its own brands, including Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, Blondo, Greats, BB Dakota and Mad Love, Steve Madden is a licensee of various brands, including Anne Klein and Superga.
Happy Socks
Emil Viklund was appointed CEO of Happy Socks.
Viklund joined Happy Socks as chief financial officer (CFO) in December 2019 after eight years at Bonnier News, a Swedish media house. He will take over from Steven Gardener, who has led the firm as CEO since September 2019 and will remain with Happy Socks as an advisor until March before leaving to pursue other career interests.
Vicklund will continue to oversee the financial department until Happy Socks appoints a new CFO.
Figs
Figs, a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel company, appointed Jeffrey Lawrence as chief financial officer (CFO).
Lawrence, who previously served as CFO of Domino’s Pizza, joins the company known for creating innovative, comfortable and functional scrubs. Figs sells its premium quality products through its direct-to-consumer website.
Since launching in 2013 by co-CEOs Heather Hasson and Trina Spear, Figs has expanded into additional product categories beyond scrubs, including activewear, outerwear, accessories and limited-edition collaborations with brands such as New Balance.
Textiles
MMI Textiles
MMI Textiles Inc., a supplier of industrial and custom fabrics and textile components with apparel, military, tactical, medical and commercial applications, announced a new executive hire, Kathleen Stevens as CFO, and four promotions–Debbie Grant to chief of staff, Nick Rivera to chief operating officer, Geoffrey Senko to director of business development and Joshua Slack to supply chain manager.
MMI Textiles said these new executive moves will help support the company through its next phase of growth as a global supplier of advanced materials.
Prior to joining MMI Textiles, Stevens served as the CFO of Standby Screw Machine Products, as well as the CFO of Ohio Association of Polygraph Examiners. Rivera, MMI Textiles’ longest tenured employee, brings nearly 15 years of experience in customer service, production and operations to his new position after serving as director of operations since 2014.
Grant will build on her 11-year tenure with MMI Textiles, where she oversees marketing, customer service, human resources, office systems/IT, professional certifications and works on strategic projects. She will report directly to the CEO and will focus on helping set policies and making time, information and decision processes more efficient and effective.
Senko has been with MMI for more than 10 years as a sales representative and successive positions as regional sales manager and national accounts manager. In his new position, he will develop and implement plans designed to build customer relationships and capture new opportunities on a global scale.
Slack will build on his five years’ experience with MMI in customer service and production. In his new position, he will oversee and manage the company’s logistics strategy and operations with a focus on process efficiency and productivity. He will also be responsible for continuing to develop and maintain vendor and distributor relationships.
From its headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, its newest operation in Lenoir, N.C., and its resource base of more than 250 suppliers, MMI delivers innovative solutions from fabrics, webbing, binding tape, hook and loop, hardware and labels.
Technology
MTI
Mobile Tech Inc. (MTI), a provider of retail security, smart retail and global services, promoted Mary Jesse to CEO and to serve on its board of directors to drive innovation and growth, while continuing to lead MTI’s digital transformation. Jesse is the first female to serve on the company’s board.
She was originally appointed as chief operations officer in February 2020, where she rapidly streamlined business operations, hired and promoted new executive talent, led the company’s digital transformation and realigned the company’s products to meet the needs of its core customers in retail, healthcare and hospitality to coincide with the ‘new normal’ brought on by COVID-19. Jesse has also led the improvement in MTI’s company culture by focusing on increased transparency, inclusive diversity and quality.
Poq
Software-as-a-Service app platform Poq promoted chief technology officer (CTO) Jay Johnston to the role of CEO.
Johnston takes over the CEO role from Poq’s co-founder, Øyvind Henriksen, who will continue to play an active role in platform roadmap and product development as senior vice president of product strategy.
In addition, Johnston will join the Poq board, together with Euan Menzies, who also joined the company in 2018 and serves as chief financial officer.
Poq empowers retailers to create fully customized mobile apps that helps them build stronger brands, sell more products, deepen customer loyalty and deliver highly relevant content, communications and rewards. Poq clients include global brands and retailers such as Belk, Cotton On, Francesca’s, Feelunique, Missguided, Hot Topic and Kurt Geiger.