Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> March 17, 2003
ROBERT J. WICHSER is President and Chief Operating Officer of JA
Apparel Corporation. He is one of the most experienced and
respected executives in the apparel industry. During the course
of his 25-year career, Mr. Wichser has established an enviable
reputation for building successful businesses and for developing
iconic brands, as well as for nurturing and empowering an
organization to achieve its fullest potential. He is a hands-on
manager who believes that every individual in a company is in a
position to make a valuable contribution and that no function or
task is inconsequential. Mr. Wichser began his professional
career in 1973 at Manhattan Industries, where over the next nine
years, he gained entre into the world of fashion, working with
renowned American designer Henry Grethel. At Manhattan
Industries, Mr. Wichser served in various management positions,
initially as Product Manager ' Dress Shirts, subsequently as Vice
President of Marketing and ultimately as General Merchandise
Manager for Manhattan Shirt Company. His responsibilities
included product development, merchandising and marketing for
such dominant brands as John Henry dress shirts and sportswear,
Henry Grethel dress shirts and sportswear, John Henry for Women
and Henry Grethel for Women. In 1981, Mr. Wichser joined Warnaco
as President of the Women's Knitwear Division, where he was
responsible for the merchandising, sales, marketing and sourcing
for a $75 million annual business, which included such brands as
Hathaway for Women, Geoffrey Beene and Pringle of Scotland.
Subsequently, in 1986, Mr. Wichser was appointed to the position
of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Women's Apparel
Group at Crystal Brands. He was responsible for merchandising,
sales, marketing and operations for a $175 million annual
business, which encompassed such brands as Evan Picone, Evan
Picone Dress and Picone Sport. Mr. Wichser joined GFT USA.,
Corp., in 1993, serving as President and Chief Operating Officer
of the company's joint venture with designer Joseph Abboud.
Subsequently, in 1996, the existing joint venture between Mr.
Abboud and GFT USA was transformed into a long-term license
agreement under the auspices of JA Apparel Corp., which was
formed by GFT USA, Corp., for the purpose of manufacturing and
marketing men's tailored clothing, sportswear, furnishings and
accessories under the Joseph Abboud trademarks. Upon its
inception, Mr. Wichser became President and Chief Operating
Officer of JA Apparel Corp. and, subsequently, in 1998, he
assumed the additional role of Vice Chairman of Mr. Abboud's
trademark licensing company, Joseph Abboud Worldwide, in order to
provide overall management integration, infrastructural
coordination, licensee continuity and business synergy between
Joseph Abboud Worldwide and JA Apparel Corp., for the benefit of
the Joseph Abboud brand. In July 2000, and under the leadership
of Mr. Wichser, JA Apparel Corp. purchased the master license for
all of the Joseph Abboud trademarks from Mr. Abboud, and Mr.
Wichser concurrently resigned his position as Vice Chairman of
Joseph Abboud Worldwide. Profile
Abboud Apparel and a picture of the things you are doing at the
present time?
Mr. Wichser: Joseph Abboud is a modern American
