Human Resources

The American Wholesale Marketers Association announced that sociologist and women's work expert Marianne Cooper will be the keynote speaker at the AWMA Women's Leadership Initiative Kickoff Breakfast, to be held on Feb. 27 at the 2014 AWMA Marketplace and Solutions Expo in Las Vegas.

Columbus, Ohio -- Strategic brand and design firm Chute Gerdeman has named Jim Crawford to the new position of VP of technology and experience design. He will be responsible for integrating next-generation technology into the shopping experiences and store designs that Chute Gerdeman creates for its clients.

Lululemon has named former Toms president Laurent Potdevin as the company’s CEO and elected him to its board of directors. Potdevin succeeds Christine Day, who has served as the company’s CEO since 2008 and announced her intention to resign in June 2013.

Potdevin will become a director when he assumes his duties as CEO in January 2014. Day is expected to remain with Lululemon through the end of the company’s fiscal year to ensure a smooth transition.

Michael Jeffries is still CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. The company has renewed Jeffries’ employment agreement for a second time, with this latest restructured agreement taking effect Feb. 1, 2014, when Jeffries' current agreement expires.

Tumi Holdings has named Joseph R. Gromek as chairman of the company’s board of directors. Gromek, who joined the board in April 2012, succeeds Richard P. Hanson, who has stepped down as chairman.

Until his retirement in February 2012, Gromek served as president and CEO of the Warnaco Group since April 2003, and as a member of the company’s board. From 1996 to 2002, Gromek served as president and CEO of Brooks Brothers. During the past 25 years, Gromek has also held senior management positions with Saks Fifth Avenue, Limited Brands and Ann Taylor Stores.

New York -- Stuart Weitzman, the luxury footwear brand owned by The Jones Group Inc., has appointed Francois Kress to the newly created position of global president.

Kress, formerly president and chief operating officer of The Row (New York), will oversee all aspects of the Weitzman brand’s global retail and wholesale business and he will assume the role of strategic leader for new initiatives and brand extensions.

Pittsburgh – American Eagle reported disappointing results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income plummeted 68% to $24.9 million from $78.6 million, missing Wall Street projections.

Total net revenue of $857 million decreased 6% compared to $910 million last year. Same-store sales fell 5%.

Chad Kessler was named chief merchandising and design officer at American Eagle Outfitters after the company reported a big decline in third-quarter profits and said it expects fourth quarter same-store sales to decline.