Birkhold to head Lacoste U.S. division

PARIS Devanlay S.A., the Paris-based holder of the worldwide manufacturing and distribution license for Lacoste apparel, announced the appointment of Steve Birkhold as CEO of its U.S. subsidiary effective Jan. 4, 2010. The current president and CEO Robert Siegel will step down at the end of the year.

Birkhold is currently the CEO of Diesel USA, a position he has held since October 2007. He started his career at May Department Stores, where he worked for 12 years -- first as an executive trainee, then as a buyer and later in product development. Birkhold honed his skills in the men's and women's sportswear businesses there and then went on to translate that success into the competitive denim arena at VF Corporation, where he served in several strategic positions including general manager of Lee Jeans, president of Earl Jeans and finally general manager of Nautica Jeans.