Berglass + Associates

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The Work We Do

Product Exposure

More categories. In many product categories, the walls between wholesale and retail have dissolved. Because we began recruiting on the wholesale side, we understand this change better than our competitors who are focused primarily on retail. Today, we have a balanced network in both wholesale and retail.

We have recruited in each of these categories:

Distribution Experience

More places. Today, consumers are attracted by channel of distribution as much as by product. So we recruit from the places people are shopping today, and anticipate where shopping trends are headed. It’s part of what keeps us current.

We recruit in these channels regularly:

Investment Community

More power. We know how investors think, and know how to attract talent that can buy into an investor’s strategy immediately. We know how to screen for executives that are driven by profit and by adding value.

We’ve completed management searches for:

Private Equity Placements

Client: St. John Knits (Vestar Capital)
Position: CEO
Placement: Glenn McMahon (former President,Dolce and Gabbana)

Client: Crunch Fitness (Angelo, Gordon & Co.)
Position: CEO
Placement: Tim Miller (former EVP, Morgans Hotel Group)

Client: Chuy’s Comida Deluxe (Goode Partners)
Position: CEO
Placement: Steve Hislop (former Concept President, O’Charley’s)

Client: Tabi International (Catterton Partners)
Position: CEO
Placement: Andrea Weiss (former President and CEO, dELIA*S)

Client: The Children’s Place (Apax Partners)
Position: President
Placement: Neal Goldberg (former President, Gap Outlet)

Client: Build-A-Bear (Catterton Partners)
Position: President, COO
Placement: Barry Erdos (former COO, Ann Taylor)

Client: Goody’s Family Clothing (GMM Capital)
Position: President
Placement: Mary Kwan (former SVP, Merchandising, Quicksilver)

Client: Stuart Weitzman (Bear Stearns)
Position: President
Placement: Gregg Ribatt (former SVP, Bennett Footwear Group)

Client: Sugoi (Pegasus Capital Advisors)
Position: President
Placement: Stan Mavis (former SVP, Product Development, Brooks Sports)

Client: Outlast (Kansas City Equity Partners)
Position: President
Placement: Pat Gruber (former VP, Chief Technology Officer, Cargill Dow)

Client: Bootlegger (Apax Partners)
Position: President
Placement: Chris Phillips (former VP, Merchandising, Gap)

Client: Crunch Fitness (Angelo, Gordon & Co.)
Position: CFO
Placement: Michael Jacobs (former COO, B.R. Guest)

Client: Urban Brands (Trimaran Capital)
Position: CFO
Placement: Anita Britt (former EVP, Finance, Jones Apparel Group)

Client: Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (Apax Partners)
Position: CFO
Placement: John Swygert (former CFO, Factory 2 U Stores)

Client: Fantastic Sams (Pouschine Cook)
Position: CFO
Placement: Brian Sheehan (former VP, Finance, Casual Male Retail Group)

Client: Cosmetic Essence (Onex Partners)
Position: CFO
Placement: Richard Browning (former CFO, Epana)

Client: Chrysallis (Catterton Partners)
Position: CMO
Placement: Jill Scalamandre (former SVP, Marketing, Avon)

Client: Charlotte Russe (Apax Partners)
Position: EVP, GMM
Placement: Patti Shields (former MM, Men’s, Gap Inc.)

Client: St. John Knits (Vestar Capital)
Position: SVP, Retail Operations
Placement: Richard Chilcott (former SVP, Paperchase)

Client: Levitz Furniture (Prentice Capital Management)
Position: SVP, Human Resources
Placement: Sam Scruggs (former SVP, National City Corporation)

Client: The Children’s Place (Apax Partners)
Position: SVP, Operations
Placement: Kevin Mead (former VP, Store Operations, Polo/Ralph Lauren)

Client: Joseph Abboud (J.W. Childs Associates)
Position: VP, Licensing
Placement: Kenton Selvey (former VP, Strategic Partnerships International, Discovery Communications)

Client: Judith Leiber (Pegasus Capital Advisors)
Position: VP, Sales
Placement: Lela Katsune (former EVP, Sales & Marketing, Catherine Malandrino)

Client: Levitz Furniture (Prentice Capital Management)
Position: VP, Controller
Placement: Larry Dunn (former VP, Corporate Controller, Aveta Inc. and Aveta Health Inc.)

Client: Healthy Pet (Allied Capital)
Position: VP, Operations
Placement: Todd Fine (former SVP, Sales, PCA International)

Client: Scoop (Yucaipa Companies)
Position: DMM, Men’s
Placement: Lori Swersky (former Buyer, Bloomingdale’s)

Client: Goody’s Family Clothing (GMM Capital)
Position: Design Director
Placement: Tom Walko (former Design Director, The May Department Stores International)

Client: Levitz Furniture (Prentice Capital Management)
Position: Regional VP
Placement: John Farugia (former VP, Home Depot)

Star Search Program

More stars. We always deliver extraordinary talent for each search, but some clients want to be kept abreast of the top talent available all the time. Too often, management staffing needs aren’t addressed until they’re critical. Star Search averts this problem by regularly introducing you to top executives in your industry (and outside of it, if appropriate).

Originally developed for a $10 billion client, our Star Search Program provides regular, ongoing introductions to the most successful management executives around, and is now available to retailers, consumer goods companies and investment firms. The cost to participate in the Star Search Program is not steep, and retainers are often credited against placements.

Please call Les Berglass directly to learn more.