Gap Inc. Names Sonia Syngal CEO, Two New Members to Join Gap’s Board of Directors

SAN FRANCISCO — March 5, 2020 —  Gap Inc. today announced that its board of directors has named Sonia Syngal, an accomplished retail leader and CEO of the portfolio’s Old Navy business since 2016, as the company’s next CEO, effective March 23. She will also join the Gap Inc. board of directors. As Gap Inc.’s new CEO, Syngal’s top priority will be strengthening the performance of the portfolio.

“To lead the company into its next chapter, we sought a dynamic leader who could bring a deep respect for our customers and make the decisions necessary to deliver value from our portfolio of brands over the long term,” said Bob Fisher, interim Gap Inc. CEO and current chair of the Gap Inc. Board of Directors. “Sonia has all of the characteristics and experiences needed to effectively execute against the work ahead. She is an excellent operator who drives innovation and decisive action, and she leads with both vision and heart.”

“It’s an honor to build on this company’s rich heritage and lead our nearly 130,000 employees in transforming our business and operations to successfully compete in the future,” said Syngal. “I’m committed to fully realizing the potential of our portfolio and the advantage of our scale, with a focus on strengthening the love that our millions of customers have for our brands. To do that, we must better prioritize initiatives and capabilities that will improve execution and drive value creation.”

The company also announced that Board member Bobby Martin will take the role of executive chairman, effective March 23. Martin has extensive experience in the retail world, having served as president and CEO of Wal-Mart International, as a former director at Dillard’s Inc., and as a member of the Gap Inc. board of directors since 2002. His experiences will serve as a strong complement to Sonia’s, as they position the company to deliver value to our customers, employees and shareholders.

Two New Members to Join Gap Inc.’s Board of Directors: Elizabeth Smith and Amy Miles

The company also announced the election of two new members to serve on its Board of Directors, effective April 1.

Elizabeth Smith is the former CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, where she drove efforts to adapt to the changing consumer landscape by redefining convenience for the casual-dining segment. In addition to her work leading the Bloomin’ Brands portfolio, revitalizing the company’s core brands domestically and internationally, she also served in senior positions at Avon Products and with Kraft Foods. She currently serves as a director for Bloomin’ Brands and Hilton Worldwide, and previously served on the boards of Carter’s and Staples.

Amy Miles served as CEO of Regal Entertainment Group beginning in 2009, overseeing one of the world’s largest theater chains until 2018 when the company was acquired by Cineworld. While at the helm, Miles built a reputation as a strong operator and one of the most influential figures in entertainment, as she led the Regal team to compete and grow in an era where streaming entertainment services began disrupting the theater industry. Miles is also an experienced board member, currently serving on the boards of Norfolk Southern Corporation and ASM Global.

About Sonia Syngal

Syngal led Old Navy from $7 billion to $8 billion in sales in just three years, expanding its North American presence to more than 1,200 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, scaling its ecommerce site to the number 4 largest apparel site in the U.S. and building competitive omni-channel capabilities. Prior to that, she was executive vice president of Global Supply Chain and Product Operations, responsible for managing Gap Inc.’s global supply chain and redefining a best-in-class product-to-market model for its portfolio of brands.

Since joining Gap Inc. in 2004, she has served in key leadership and general management roles including managing director for the company’s Europe business, senior vice president for Gap Inc.’s International division and International Outlet division.

Prior to joining Gap Inc., Syngal had a long career in Fortune 500 product companies, including Sun Microsystems where she led manufacturing operations, logistics and supply chain management, and at Ford Motor Co. where she held roles in product design, quality and manufacturing engineering.

She is a member of the Boys & Girls Club of America’s Board of Governors and serves on The Gap Foundation Board of Trustees.

Posted March 6, 2020

Source: Gap Inc.

Sage Automotive Interiors To Acquire Adient’s Automotive Fabric Business

GREENVILLE, S.C. — March 5, 2020 —  Sage Automotive Interiors, an Asahi Kasei company, has signed an agreement to acquire the automotive fabric business of Adient with the goal of expanding capacity and capability for automotive interior products to the European market. With a number of locations in Europe, the textile facilities are ideally suited to supply the automotive cut and sew facilities in Central and Eastern Europe.

“Europe continues to be a key growth area for Sage Automotive Interiors,” said Dirk Pieper, CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors. “In addition, the technology and capabilities that will now be part of Sage Automotive Interiors will strengthen our ability to serve customers from our current locations in Europe and the rest of the world.”

“As Adient continues to focus on its core business, we believe that the sale of our fabrics operation to Sage better positions that business for growth and long-term successful performance,” said Doug Del Grosso, president and CEO of Adient.

Per the agreement, Sage Automotive Interiors will pay $175 million for Adient’s automotive fabric business. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions and is not expected to be completed until mid 2020.

Sage Automotive Interiors is one of the world’s leading providers of automotive interior materials — seating, door panel surfaces, and headliners — to automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Global offices and manufacturing locations include the U.S., Japan, China, Brazil, Korea, India, Thailand, Mexico, and Europe. Sage enjoys core strengths in consumer research, sustainability and innovative problem solving for the OEM. Sage’s vision is to be the market leader in design, engineering, and technical capability supported by world class manufacturing. Sage Automotive Interiors is an Asahi Kasei company.

Posted March 6, 2020

Source: Sage Automotive Interiors

Adient Enters Into Agreement To Sell Its Fabrics Business To Sage Automotive Interiors

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — March 5, 2020 —  Adient, a global supplier of automotive seating, has entered into an agreement to sell its automotive fabrics manufacturing business, including its lamination business, to Sage Automotive Interiors, an Asahi Kasei company, for $175 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, local legal requirements and other customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of FY 2020.

The pending sale includes 11 facilities globally, with the majority located in Europe, with approximately 1,300 employees. The fabrics business is expected to generate approximately $240 million in revenue and slightly less than $20 million and adjusted EBITDA in fiscal year 2020 for Adient.

The pending sale aligns with Adient’s continuing strategy of focusing on its core, high-volume seating business. Proceeds from the transaction are expected to be used by Adient to pre-pay a portion of the company’s debt and for general corporate purposes.

“As Adient continues to focus on its core business, we believe that the sale of our fabrics operation to Sage better positions that business for growth and long-term successful performance,” said Doug Del Grosso, president and CEO of Adient.

Posted March 6, 2020

Source: Adient

Itema Group Announces Appointment Of Ugo Ghilardi As New CEO and Moves Towards A New Stage Of Development And Consolidation

Ghilardi

BERGAMO, Italy — March 2, 2020 — Itema Group, multinational grouppart of the Radici world of companies manufacturing advanced weaving solutions including weaving machines, spare parts and integrated services and with majority interests in companies active in complementary businesses, announced that its board of directors has named Ugo Ghilardi, effective March 2, 2020, as CEO.

Ghilardi, who is taking over from Carlo Rogora at the helm of the Colzate, Italy-based company, during his remarkable professional experience held positions of increasing responsibility in leading companies in the mechanical and automation industries. Ghilardi, in fact, boasts a long career in DMG Mori-German-Japanese multinational company world leader in the production and marketing of machine tools-where he held a variety of senior management positions, including Divisional Board Member Sales & Service EMEA, COO EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) with direct responsibility of sales and service for all European markets and DMG Mori Europe CEO.

Gianfranco Ceruti, president of the Itema Board of Directors, commented on the choice of Ghilardi as the new CEO of Itema Group: “Ugo Ghilardi brings to the position a wealth of knowledge in international markets and an array of experiences in the mechanical industry, thus allowing us to count on fundamental skills to drive a company like Itema. We are convinced that Ghilardi will guide our Group with foresight and vision, reinforcing our position on the market and our structural solidity also due to his extraordinary mastery of operations activities and to his customer-oriented attitude.”

Key factors that led the Itema Board of Directors to name Ghilardi as new CEO are his deep-rooted closeness to the company and his strategic vision — as stated by Angelo Radici — on behalf of Gianni Radici’s family heirs who hold the 60 percent of Itema shares and in agreement with Arizzi and Torri families to which the remaining shares belong-“Ghilardi, in addition to the excellent understanding of global business scenarios, comes from our own territory and knows very well its traditional and historical vocation in the textile industry: I strongly believe that crucial aspect for us is to entrust the leadership of our Group to a man of great managerial capacity to maintain our traditional excellent level of quality in the solutions provided to our existing customers as well as guiding the company towards new business expansions. All this in line with the sustainability mission that has always distinguished us and that, I am sure, Ghilardi will translate into concrete actions.”

Ghilardi extensive global leadership experience and proven track record in the industry will be dedicated to consolidating the Group’s current position and conquering new market shares, as well as developing the Itema industrial capacity and prowess, that always played a role of primary importance for the company and its shareholders.

A goal which is not easy and certainly not self-evident since, even though markets still offer great opportunities to be seized, the international situation reveals uncertainty due to a series of fluctuations on a global basis and a macro-economic dynamic that generates instability and insecurity.

Itema new CEO’s dedication and motivation are, however, the highest possible and, according to Ghilardi, Itema’s history and particularly the way the company was founded, its brands creation and the traditional quality level guaranteed to the market in recent years, represent the basic philosophy to rely on to confidently deal with the challenges the company must confront to further grow.

In the first declaration since his appointment, Ghilardi stated: “I strongly believe in Itema, in its employees and in its products. Innovation remains the core added value for the continued growth of this company and we will pursue it in all our choices, from product development to operations management. Our mission is, now more than ever, to deliver to our Customers not only advanced and innovative products, but an all-inclusive assistance as integral part of the process. As I am used to say, our customer is not outside the company, he is exactly beside us, deserving to be considered as a real partner. I will focus on reinforcing Itema’s strong positions in many important markets for the future and on serving Itema’s customers to deliver long-term growth and value creation.”

With Ugo Ghilardi at the head of Itema, the company is ready to face with renewed enthusiasm new challenges and targets, with the confidence that results from the awareness of being able to count on an experienced, solid leader attentive to customers’ needs and focused on leading the group towards new heights of success.

Posted March 6, 2020

Source: Itema

American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) Announces New Dates For Floortek Expo 2020

DALTON, Ga. — March 4, 2020 — The American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) has announced that Floortek Expo, hosted in Dalton, Ga., will be held September 29-30, 2020.

Last year the Expo spanned two-and-a-half days, but light attendance on the final day and feedback from attendees and exhibitors indicates this final day is not necessary. The shortening of the expo will also help create more flexibility in travel schedules for anyone coming in from out of town. The exhibition hall will open at 10:00 a.m. each morning and close at 6:00 p.m.

An early bird discount is available for exhibitors through April 1, 2020. You can register online as an exhibitor or attendee at the FloorTek Expo website at www.floor-tek.com.​ The AFA will also be updating the website with events and news surrounding the expo so check back frequently for updated information.

Stephanie Manis, executive director of AFA, indicated she expected a larger show in 2020 and new program elements to help educate and connect the participants in the floor covering industry.

Posted March 5, 2020

Source: American Floorcovering Alliance, Inc. (AFA)

Ruyi’s Cubbie Station Is About To Receive A Bumper Cotton Harvest

QUEENSLAND, Australia — March 5, 2020 —  Cubbie Station, a subsidiary of Ruyi Group, has reached its highest water level, bringing abundant water to the cotton planting season from 2020 to 2021. Cotton is expected to usher in a bumper harvest.

Cubbie Station in Queensland is Australia’s largest irrigated cotton farm. It has suffered a severe drought in recent years. The successive droughts have broken the balance of the local ecosystems and resulted in massive pressure on agricultural production.

Cubbie Station owns three cotton fields near St. George and Dirranbandi in southwestern Queensland. Its total area is 93,700 hectares, including 22,100 hectares of irrigated land. According to the data last month, the rainfall of the Dirranbandi cotton field reaches to 72 millimeters, and the highest rainfall of St. George is over 132 millimeters. A recent satellite image showed that Cubbie Station has diverted water from the Culgoa River and filled a 2000-meter-long reservoir. Rains provide more than 170 billion liters of water for the next cotton season.

Cubbie Station is the largest producer of cotton in the southern hemisphere and the world’s largest producer of agricultural irrigation. It can produce in excess of 330,000 bales of cotton and other agriculture including wheat, sorghum, sunflowers, barley, chickpeas and corn in a full production year. 15,000 hectares of cotton will be grown from 2020 to 2021, which reaches to 70 percent of the total output. Another crop of wheat is likely to be planted this winter, with an expected yield of 8,000 hectares. The saturated rainwater is expected to meet the water demand for cotton planting in the next three years.

As the source of the textile industry, cotton is the key to long-term development of textile enterprises. Since acquiring Cubbie Station for 300 million Australian dollars (2 billion renimbi) in 2013, Ruyi Group has combined advanced modern planting technology to improve planting levels and expand the cotton industry chain. Ruyi has invested more than US$26 million to maintain and improve the operating efficiency of Cubbie and another US$25 million to acquire and upgrade the ginning in Dirranbandi. Cubbie has achieved bumper harvests for three consecutive years since the acquisition, and it has become an important profit growth source for Ruyi Group in Australian cotton production and export pricing.

Posted March 5, 2020

Source: Ruyi Group

CQ Printing Unveils New DTG Printing For Single, Full Color And Short Run Custom Apparel Printing

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — March 5, 2020 —  CQ Printing, a family owned commercial printing and branding company, announced the launch of its Direct to Garment (DTG) printing division for apparel printing. DTG capabilities provides high quality, short-run custom printing options for customers with a quick turnaround time. Apparel can be printed in single or multi-color designs. “We are thrilled to debut our DTG capability to complement our already growing apparel division, and build a more well-rounded service offering,” Founder and CEO John Bechke stated.

CQ Printing has been in business for more than 42 years, providing commercial printing, design, direct mailing, signs and banners, branded apparel and promotional products. CQ Printing offers a one-stop shop for all their client’s needs, providing high quality products and services, serving northeastern Ohio with offices and a production facility in Strongsville and Medina.

Posted March 5, 2020

Source: CQ Printing

Gerber Childrenswear Launches New Elevated Line Of Baby Essentials

Gerber Childrenswear Modern Moments

GREENVILLE, S.C. — March 5, 2020 —  Gerber Childrenswear LLC is excited to announce the launch of the Gerber Modern Moments baby apparel line made with organically grown cotton and available exclusively at Walmart March 2020.

“As an iconic brand with a deep heritage of providing the best essentials for babies, Gerber is constantly evolving to appeal to today’s consumer while providing great value,” said Donna DeBoer, chief merchandising officer at Gerber Childrenswear. “We have built our apparel brand on providing parents with quality products that look, fit and feel great. Our Gerber Modern Moments line has a new color palette and modern silhouettes, all made from organic cotton.”

Aligning with Gerber Childrenswear’s long-standing commitment to provide high quality, functional products, the new Gerber Modern Moments baby line gives today’s moms a brand with modern sophistication and style without compromising on quality, all with the value they expect from Gerber. The line features new designs and colors, including:

  • Comfort Design: 97-percent cotton with organic fibers/3-percent spandex, Standard 100 Oeko-Tex® Certified;
  • Baby Soft: Made with organic cotton for high quality comfort and perfect amount of stretch;
  • Design Forward: Modern, boutique silhouettes, colors and designs;
  • Mix-it-up: Boy, girl and neutral separates for creating multiple looks;
  • Quality for All: Exceptional quality and affordable for all;
  • Assorted Sizes: Newborn up to 12 months; and
  • Great Value: Retail prices range from $2.84 – $12.84.

“Our purpose is to be parents’ trusted partner on their parenting journey. We felt there was a need for a fashion-forward modern line of baby essentials from a brand parents can trust to bring high quality at an affordable price,” said Maria Montaño, president and CEO.

Gerber Modern Moments is available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com.

Posted March 5, 2020

Source: Gerber Childrenswear LLC

Brooks Brothers Group Inc. Seeks To Protect Its Trademark — Company Asks That Coexistence Agreement Be Honored By Brooks Sports, Inc.

NEW YORK CITY — March 4, 2020 — Brooks Brothers Group Inc. today announced that it has filed a response and counterclaim against Brooks Sports Inc. for breach of contract, trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition. The lawsuit seeks to eliminate potential consumer deception or confusion caused by Brooks Sports by intentionally dropping its logo in association with its brand name — which is in direct violation of a long-standing co-existence agreement between the two companies.

Brooks Brothers was founded by Henry Sands Brooks in New York City in 1818 and is America’s oldest apparel company. The BROOKS BROTHERS trademark was established in 1854. For over two centuries the company has been recognized as a global lifestyle brand offering a wide range of clothing, sportswear and accessories that have defined American style. Brooks Brothers has also invented some of fashion’s most iconic items, many of which take origins in sports apparel, such as its famous Original Polo Button Down shirt. As a result of its long history and widespread fame, the name Brooks has become synonymous with Brooks Brothers not only within the apparel industry but also in the media, popular culture, literature and to consumers alike.

In the 1970’s, Brooks Sports Inc. began selling running shoes under the mark BROOKS, prompting an objection by Brooks Brothers and eventually, in 1980, a coexistence agreement providing that Brooks Sports could use BROOKS alone for athletic shoes, but could only use BROOKS on athletic clothing if combined with a logo or other word.

After nearly 40 years of co-existence based on these terms, Brooks Sports has breached the agreement by dropping its logo and filing for the word BROOKS alone for a variety of apparel items, selling t-shirts and hats displaying BROOKS without its logo, and filing a lawsuit against Brooks Brothers.

In order to protect its internationally renowned trademark and prevent consumer confusion between the companies’ respective brands, Brooks Brothers has opposed Brooks Sports’ newly filed applications around the world and filed a counterclaim in federal court to enforce the terms of the contract.

Posted March 5, 2020

Source: Brooks Brothers Group Inc.

Teijin Frontier Launches Eco-Minded Adhesive For Rubber Reinforcing Fiber

TOKYO — March 5, 2020 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibers and products converting company, announced today that it has launched a new eco-minded adhesive for rubber reinforcing fiber that does not use resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) but still achieves the same level of performance as conventional methods. The new adhesive, one of Teijin Frontier’s latest “THINK ECO” applications to protect the environment in fields ranging from fashion to industrial textiles, will be test marketed beginning this year. The company is targeting annual production of 200,000 tons in 2028.

Resorcinol-formaldehyde latex (RFL) adhesives have long been used to reinforce rubber products, such as tires, with fiber to maintain strength and morphological stability. In recent years, however, demands have been growing for solutions that do not use RF, which has been shown to have harmful effects on the human body.

The new adhesive uses a non-RF blended polymer for bonding. The polymer, which is reticulated by intermolecular interaction, achieves a high level of adhesiveness, equivalent to that of an RFL adhesive thanks to its high affinity for both fiber and rubber.

Going forward, Teijin Frontier will continue to develop diverse applications for various kinds of rubber materials including tires, belts, hoses and more.

Posted March 5, 2020

Source: The Teijin Group

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