Retail
L Brands
L Brands Inc. announced the composition of the board of directors for the standalone, publicly traded Victoria’s Secret that is expected to be formed through the company’s separation of its Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret businesses.
The new Victoria’s Secret board is expected to consist of seven directors, six of whom are independent and six of whom are women, including the chair. It also included two directors currently serving on the L Brands board who will step down in connection with the separation.
The anticipated members of the Victoria’s Secret board following the completion of the separation are Donna James, managing director of Lardon & Associates as chair; Irene Chang Britt, former president of Pepperidge Farm and senior vice president of global baking and snacking at Campbell Soup Company; Sarah Davis, former president of Loblaw Companies Limited; Jacqueline Hernández, former chief marketing officer of Hispanic enterprises and content at NBC Universal; Lauren Peters, former chief financial officer of Foot Locker Inc.; Anne Sheehan, former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Investor Advisory Committee, and Martin Waters, CEO of Victoria’s Secret.
The previously announced plan to separate Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret into standalone publicly listed companies through a spin-off of the Victoria’s Secret business to L Brands shareholders remains on track to be completed in August 2021, subject to certain customary conditions, including final approval by the L Brands board and effectiveness of a Form 10 registration statement filed with the SEC.
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Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus appointed Lisa Aiken as its new fashion and lifestyle director.
This role is part of the merchandising and planning team transformation, reporting to Lana Todorovich, president and chief merchandising officer of Neiman Marcus Group.
In her most recent role, Aiken defined the fashion vision as a fashion and buying director at Moda Operandi. Earlier in her career at Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa, Aiken built a reputation for bringing a modernized approach for luxury brands and fashion e-tailers.
Beginning Aug. 9, Aiken will head up the Neiman Marcus Fashion and Lifestyle Office, identifying emerging brands, discovering new trends and services across the fashion and lifestyle space, and inspiring Neiman Marcus’s loyal luxury customer base with her point-of-view on today’s global fashion landscape. In this position, she will collaborate closely with brand partners to expand the exclusive partnerships for which Neiman Marcus is known, such as the recent Prada Outdoor immersive “Coast” experience and Loewe Paula’s Ibiza installations.
Neiman Marcus is a Dallas-based luxury retailer, with a 37-store presence in the U.S., a U.S. e-commerce luxury platform and remote selling and personalization technology. Neiman Marcus is part of the Neiman Marcus Group, with brands that include Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus Last Call and Horchow.
Brands
Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (ABG) announced that Henry Stupp joined the company as president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
As president of EMEA, Stupp will spearhead ABG’s brand and business expansion across EMEA and India. Stupp will be located in London, where he will open and oversee a new ABG office and recruit for dedicated regional teams.
Stupp most recently served as CEO of Apex Global Brands. Before that, he was co-founder of NTD Apparel, a leading licensee of entertainment, character, sports and branded apparel and a supplier of clothing and accessories to North American retailers.
ABG veteran Taylor Morono, now interim senior vice president of EMEA, who has been instrumental in the company’s growth over the last decade, will join Stupp in this endeavor to develop ABG’s London office and the expansion of its brands in the region.
ABG’s portfolio spans the media, entertainment, luxe, fashion, street, wellness, home and active lifestyle sectors.
Olah Inc.
Olah Inc. announced that Richard Tobin has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing.
Previously, Tobin held that same title for Kaltex America, one of Mexico’s largest denim mills and jean producers.
He brings more than 30 years of experience in the jeans industry to the company. Prior to working at Kaltex, Tobin spent eight years at Tavex in Mexico and some time in Asia working on his own business.
Tobin arrives at Olah Inc. during its 62nd year in business. The company is a multifaceted New York-based marketing, consultancy and event firm focusing on the denim and sportswear industries.
Hanesbrands
Hanesbrands appointed William S. Simon to the company’s board of directors.
With the appointment of Simon, whose term runs until the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, the company’s board has 10 members. Simon will serve on the board’s audit committee.
Simon is a senior advisor to the investment firm KKR & Co. and president of WSS Venture Holdings, a consulting and investment company. From 2010 to 2014, Simon served as president and CEO of Walmart U.S.
G-III Apparel Group
G-III Apparel Group announced that, effective July 1, 2021, Wayne Miller will step down as the company’s chief operating officer and will become a senior strategic advisor to the company.
In his new role, Miller will assist in the transition of his day-to-day responsibilities and advise the company on various aspects of corporate strategy. He will continue to report to Morris Goldfarb, chairman and CEO.
G-III designs, sources and markets apparel and accessories under owned, licensed and private label brands. G-III’s portfolio of more than 30 licensed and proprietary brands is anchored by five global power brands–DKNY, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld Paris.
Dearfoams
Dearfoams announced Jocelyn Thornton as its new brand president, saying the pivotal hire solidifies the Columbus, Ohio-based organization’s progression as a lifestyle brand, evolving from its roots as the first foam-soled washable slipper.
Thornton comes to Dearfoams with extensive experience in product development in the footwear industry for brands, including Sperry and Clarks, as well as consulting experience at the Doneger Group. Prior to joining Dearfoams, she was executive vice president of product and merchandising at Earth Shoes.
Dearfoams is moving into multi-category segments, including home, sleepwear and socks, and is expanding significantly within the comfort shoe segment.
Trade
Federal Trade Commission
Lina Khan was sworn in as chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). President Biden named Khan, a Democrat, to a term on the FTC that expires Sept. 25, 2024, and designated her as chair. Khan was confirmed by the Senate on June 15.
Prior to becoming chair of the FTC, Khan was an associate professor of Law at Columbia Law School. She also previously served as counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law, legal adviser to FTC commissioner Rohit Chopra, and legal director at the Open Markets Institute.
Textiles
Coloreel
Sven Öquist was recruited as the new vice president of sales for Coloreel, with its patented technology for digital dyeing of textile thread on-demand, as it enters the next phase in its efforts to scale up globally.
Coloreel began efforts to scale up the global presence last year, targeting a market valued over 25 billion Swedish krona ($2.89 billion). Öquist was previously responsible for driving the sales expansion at Polestar.
Coloreel is also part of the movement to reduce waste and move the textile industry towards more sustainable production. By coloring the thread directly, there is no wastewater or water pollution. Using a single reel of thread and needle also means minimized thread waste and minimized microfiber pollution.
Logistics
XPO Logistics
XPO Logistics Inc. announced that Meagan Fitzsimmons was appointed to the leadership team of GXO Logistics Inc., the intended spin-off of XPO’s logistics business.
Fitzsimmons currently serves as XPO’s chief compliance officer for the logistics segment. She will be responsible for GXO’s global ethics and compliance infrastructure when the planned spin-off is complete.
XPO expects to spin off its logistics business as a separate, publicly traded company in the third quarter. GXO will be well-positioned to capitalize on the big three secular tailwinds of e-commerce growth, customer demand for logistics automation and the burgeoning trend toward supply chain outsourcing. The business currently includes approximately 885 logistics locations in 27 countries.
TransForce Group
TransForce Group, a transportation and logistics company, named Stuart MacFarlane as chief marketing officer (CMO), effective June 28.
MacFarlane joins TransForce Group from Internet Brands/WebMD, where he was CMO, responsible for overseeing marketing efforts across Internet Brands’ portfolio of health companies, including WebMD, Demandforce, and iMatrix.
In addition, MacFarlane has founded multiple technology businesses with a focus on creating digital two-sided marketplaces. He will leverage those experiences at TransForce to help digitize and expand the marketplace to match carriers and drivers.
Later this year, TransForce Group plans to launch an innovative new app that will bring together motor carriers, drivers and available driver jobs into one succinct digital location.
From driver development to carrier business needs, TransForce Group partners with third-party logistics, private fleets and trucking companies to accelerate their growth, improve efficiencies and solve organizational demands. The company operates throughout the U.S. and Canada.