Personnel Updates
• Bloomingdale’s (912) announced Frank Doroff, Vice Chairman, Exec VP and GMM, is retiring on February 8.
• Chico’s FAS Inc. (334) announced Diane Ellis will no longer be Chico’s brand President. While the company searches for a replacement, the brand will be led by company CEO Shelley Broader.
• Christopher & Banks Corporation (43) announced it has appointed Carmen Wamre as Senior VP, Chief Stores Officer.
• Gymboree Group (109) announced Shaz Kahng was appointed CEO of the company.
• J. Crew Group Inc. (81) announced that its CEO James Brett would step down immediately, and be replaced by an “office of the CEO” made up of four senior J. Crew executives.
• The J. Jill Group Inc. (50) has announced that Exec VP and CFO Dave Biese will leave the company on April 30, 2019.
• L Brands, Inc. (74) announced Jan Singer has resigned as CEO of Victoria’s Secret. John Mehas was appointed CEO of Victoria’s Secret Lingerie, effective early 2019.
• Nike Inc. (171) announced it has promoted Heidi O’Neill to the position of President of Nike Direct. Adam Sussman, previously Nike’s Chief Digital Officer, also will assume an expanded role to become VP, General Manager Nike Direct digital and geographies.
• Rue 21 (71) announced Laurie Van Brunt has resigned as President and CEO of the company. Succeeding her is company Chairman Michael C. Appel.
Mergers and Acquisitions
• L Brands, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to sell its lingerie brand La Senza to an affiliate of private equity firm Regent LP.
Industry Insight
• Vince Holding Corp is launching a new online subscription rental service that provides unlimited access to its women’s apparel collection, called Vince Unfold.
Real Estate
• Gymboree Group announced it is considering closing more than half of its store locations in 2019.
• Levi Strauss & Co. has opened its largest international flagship in New York’s Times Square. Located in the heart of Manhattan, the 17,000 sq. ft. unit features the company’s largest Levi’s Tailor Shop.
• RYU Apparel Inc. recently opened a new 2,800 sq. ft. flagship store in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY.
• Versace USA Inc. opened a new location at the Bal Harbour Shops in Miami, FL.
