Leadership Changes at Major Apparel Firms Signal Strategic Shifts

In a wave of recent executive appointments, several prominent textile and apparel companies have made significant leadership changes aimed at driving growth and innovation. Notably, PVH Corp., Kering, Kohl's, and Academy Sports + Outdoors have all announced key hires that reflect their evolving strategies in a competitive market.

PVH Corp. Welcomes New Chief Legal Officer

Effective September 4, Elisheva Hirshman has been promoted to chief legal officer and corporate secretary at PVH Corp., succeeding Mark Fischer, who is retiring after 27 years with the company. Hirshman, who joined PVH in 2016, will now lead the global legal function and report directly to CEO Stefan Larsson. Her extensive experience includes overseeing commercial litigation and strategic corporate transactions across various regions. Larsson praised her as a highly respected partner, emphasizing her legal expertise and leadership style as crucial for PVH's long-term growth.

Kohl's Hires Walmart's Ryan Waymire as CMO

Kohl's has appointed Ryan M. Waymire as its new chief merchandising officer, effective September 28. Coming from Walmart U.S., where he served as senior vice president of fashion, Waymire brings 25 years of retail experience, including stints at Amazon, Target, and Wayfair. His role will encompass overseeing the department store's merchandise strategy as it seeks to revamp its offerings. CEO Michael J. Bender expressed confidence in Waymire's ability to refresh Kohl's merchandise strategy and integrate innovative collaborations into product narratives.

New Leadership at Kering and Academy Sports + Outdoors

Kering has appointed Sabina Belli as president of Kering Italia, effective September 15, to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in Italy, a country vital to Kering's operations. Belli, who has been with Kering since 2015, will also continue to oversee the Kering Accademia for Excellence program. Meanwhile, Academy Sports + Outdoors has named Matthew Pasch as its new executive vice president and chief people officer, succeeding William Ennis. Pasch joins from Burlington Stores and will focus on talent strategy and human resources as Academy expands its footprint across more than 300 locations.

Source: wwd.com