The latest HR moves made by leading textile and apparel companies.
Retail
KnitWell Group
KnitWell Group has appointed Angelica Munson chief digital and customer data officer, a newly created role overseeing customer data, digital marketing and personalization across the apparel retailer’s eight brands.
Munson joins from Shiseido Group, where she served as global chief digital officer. Her responsibilities at KnitWell include customer insights, AI-enabled marketing tools and the technology the group’s brands use to understand and engage shoppers.
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Munson previously held senior roles at Fast Retailing, including Theory and Helmut Lang, and at Estée Lauder’s Clinique brand, working across digital commerce and marketing in North America, Europe and Asia.
“Angelica is a highly respected digital and transformation leader whose experience sits at the intersection of customer insight, technology, marketing, and commerce,” KnitWell executive chair and CEO Lizanne Kindler said.
Ross Stores
Ross Stores has elected Microsoft executive Shelley H. Bransten and Freeman Spogli partner Christian B. Johnson to its board of directors, effective Oct. 1. Longtime director Sharon D. Garrett will retire from the board on the same date.
Bransten brings more than 25 years of experience in technology and consumer businesses. She currently serves as corporate vice president of frontier industry advisory at Microsoft Frontier Company, following a stint as Microsoft’s corporate vice president of global industry solutions from 2023 to 2026.
Before Microsoft, Bransten was senior vice president of retail and consumer goods industry at Salesforce from 2014 to 2018. She previously spent 16 years in marketing roles at Gap Inc.
Johnson joined investment firm Freeman Spogli in 2006 and became a partner in 2016. His work spans retail, consumer products, restaurants and consumer services. He previously held positions at Wachovia Securities and Genzyme.
“Shelley brings extensive expertise across technology, retail, and consumer-focused businesses,” Ross board chair K. Gunnar Bjorklund said. “Her leadership in innovation and customer engagement will provide valuable perspective to our Board.”
Garrett has served on the off-price retailer’s board since 2000.
Asos
Asos has named Law Roach its first stylist-in-residence, establishing a creative partnership that will put the celebrity stylist to work on seasonal campaigns and styling content.
Roach will collaborate with Asos’ teams on the retailer’s fashion presentation and offer customers advice on wearing key pieces. The partnership begins with his styling of six covers for the relaunch of Asos Magazine, accompanied by shoppable edits curated by the retailer’s team.
“What excites me about Asos is the opportunity to help more people discover their own point of view through style,” Roach said. “There’s incredible creativity within the brand, and together we’ll be exploring new ways to bring inspiration, great product and original ideas to customers throughout the year.”
Brands
Kontoor Brands
Kontoor Brands has elected former PepsiCo chief financial officer Jamie Caulfield and Wingstop president and CEO Michael Skipworth to its board of directors, adding finance and operating experience as the Wrangler and Helly Hansen parent manages its multi-brand portfolio.
Both appointments took effect immediately, expanding the board from seven directors to nine.
Caulfield most recently served as executive vice president and CFO of PepsiCo, where he spent more than three decades. His previous positions included senior vice president and CFO of PepsiCo Foods North America and senior vice president of investor relations. His experience also spans financial planning, mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy.
He will serve on Kontoor’s audit and nominating and governance committees.
Skipworth leads Wingstop, which operates and franchises more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide. Before becoming president and CEO, he held several finance, accounting and operations positions at the company, including president and chief operating officer. He previously worked at Cardinal Logistics Holdings and KPMG.
Skipworth will serve on Kontoor’s audit and talent and compensation committees.
“Jamie brings decades of financial and portfolio leadership from one of the world’s most respected consumer companies, where he helped guide the business through significant periods of change and expansion,” Kontoor chairman and CEO Scott Baxter said. “Michael’s proven track record scaling a high-growth consumer brand will be equally valuable.”
Puma
Puma has recruited former Nike executive Fokko de Rooij as managing director of Europe and appointed Daniel Pustina managing director of its central cluster, replacing two regional leaders who left the company this month.
De Rooij starts Oct. 1 and will report to CEO Arthur Hoeld, who is overseeing the chief commercial officer’s responsibilities until a successor is named. De Rooij replaces Javier Ortega.
His career at Nike included senior roles across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, China and the global organization, spanning sales, retail, supply chain and transformation. Most recently, he served as vice president of EMEA sales. Since leaving Nike in 2025, he has advised CEOs and boards in sporting goods and fashion.
Pustina’s appointment takes effect immediately. He will oversee Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Eastern Europe and Ukraine, reporting to de Rooij. He replaces Bas van den Bemt.
Pustina joined Puma in 2020 and most recently served as managing director of Oceania, based in Melbourne. Before moving to Australia, he held leadership roles covering Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Central Europe.
“With Fokko, we have found an internationally experienced leader with a successful track record of leading organizations through large-scale transformations,” Hoeld said.
Christophe Cance and Lucynda Davies will continue leading Puma’s Southern and Northern European clusters, respectively, and will also report to de Rooij.
Technology
First Insight
First Insight has named Jim Gruskin CEO, succeeding founder Greg Petro at the Pittsburgh-based consumer research and predictive analytics company.
Gruskin will oversee expansion of the company’s technology and its work across consumer industries. First Insight combines customer feedback with machine-learning models to help businesses make decisions about product development, pricing, assortment and investment.
Gruskin previously led technology training company Global Knowledge and served on the executive team of its parent, Skillsoft. Earlier roles included senior strategy and finance positions at Dex One, media and technology investment banking at Morgan Stanley and investing at Prudential Capital.
Over his career as an executive, banker and investor, he has completed more than 60 transactions totaling over $100 billion, according to First Insight.
“What attracted me to First Insight was not simply its technology,” Gruskin said. “It was the combination of nearly two decades of predictive modeling, direct feedback from real people and proof that better customer evidence can change where a company invests.”
Unspun
Unspun has appointed Deborah Palmer Keiser chief operating officer and Michael Rabin chief commercial officer as it prepares its OneWeave 3D weaving technology for commercial deployment.
Keiser will lead operations at the Emeryville, Calif.-based company. She brings more than three decades of operational and supply chain experience at companies including Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Williams-Sonoma, AllSaints, Yeezy and Boardriders.
At Williams-Sonoma, she helped establish the company’s brands in 16 countries. As global COO of Boardriders, she oversaw planning, sourcing, logistics and distribution, with a focus on supply chain changes and speed to market.
“For generations we have replicated and scaled the same methodologies, exacerbating issues of waste across supply chains,” Keiser said.
Rabin will build Unspun’s commercial organization and work with manufacturers and brands on adopting OneWeave. He previously served as sales director for the Americas and president of the Americas business at textile machinery company Morgan Tecnica, working on cutting-room technology and apparel production processes.
Textiles & Materials
Circulose
Circulose has hired Andreas Dorner as chief commercial officer. The former Re&Up Recycling Technologies chief executive joins the Swedish materials company after a career that includes 15 years at cellulosic fiber producer Lenzing.
Dorner joins from Re&Up Recycling Technologies, where he spent nearly three years as chief executive. He previously spent 15 years at Lenzing Group.
At Lenzing, Dorner worked to build demand among global brands for specialty man-made cellulosic fibers. His appointment adds commercial experience in both the fiber markets Circulose serves and the recycling technologies supplying them.
“He has a unique combination of world-leading experience in both MMCF and textile recycling,” Circulose CEO Jonatan Janmark said.
Spinnova
Spinnova general counsel and management team member Johanna Valkama is leaving the Finnish textile technology company for a role elsewhere.
Valkama will remain in her position during a three-month notice period, supporting ongoing projects and the handover of her responsibilities, the company said Sept. 18.
“Johanna has been a valued member of the Management Team and an important support to the company in the areas of legal affairs and good governance,” CEO Janne Poranen said.
BLC Textiles
BLC Textiles has named Jon Simon CEO, appointing the former 1888 Mills chief a year after that company and Sapphire USA acquired a majority stake in the textile supplier and its Cambodian manufacturing subsidiary.
Simon will lead the Nashville-based business as it draws on the group’s manufacturing operations in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia to expand its product range and supply capabilities. BLC serves commercial laundries, health care organizations, hospitality businesses and textile service providers.
Simon spent 37 years building 1888 Mills and its predecessor companies, Eastern Imports and Shelnor Mills. He became president in 1989 and president and CEO in 2005, leading the company through 2020 before joining its board.
“For a laundry, a hospital, or a hotel, the real cost of a textile is measured over hundreds of wash cycles,” Simon said. “With BLC’s own manufacturing in Cambodia and the strength of our partners at 1888 Mills and Sapphire, we can build on that reputation and bring it to more products and more customers.”
Organizations
Fashion Trust U.S.
Fashion Trust U.S. has appointed business executive and philanthropist Omar Mir to its board of directors and named him lead for its 2027 Sustainability Award, which recognizes emerging American designers’ work in environmental and social responsibility.
Mir’s background spans technology, education and philanthropy. He serves as an adviser on artificial intelligence and advanced technology to The King’s Trust International and as chief digital adviser to the U.K.’s Riding for the Disabled Association.
He also serves on Imperial College Business School’s advisory board and holds an appointment as an honorary visiting professor. His other board and advisory roles include the American Ballet Theatre, Holocaust Museum LA and WeProtect.
“Omar brings a rare combination of global perspective, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine commitment to the next generation,” Fashion Trust U.S. founder Tania Fares said. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our Board and to have his support behind the Sustainability Award.”
Logistics
Crowley
Crowley has promoted Brea Schmidt to chief financial officer, putting the former Alaska Communications CFO in charge of financial performance and strategy across its logistics, shipping, government and energy businesses.
Schmidt reports to chairman and CEO Tom Crowley. Her responsibilities include financial planning, capital allocation and governance, supporting the company’s investments in vessels, terminals and technology.
She joined Crowley in 2025 as vice president of finance and led financial planning and analysis across the company. Before that, she served as CFO of Alaska Communications.
“Brea brings experience built in capital-intensive businesses, and she is a strong, collaborative leader focused on high performance, strategic planning and analysis and delivering value and return on investment,” Tom Crowley said.
