Apparel and accessories retailer Tilly’s has gone back to a former leader in selecting its new CEO. Edmond Thomas, who led the company as President and co-CEO from September 2005 to October 2007, will replace Daniel Griesemer in those roles.
Thomas’ new tenure at Tilly’s follows two stints as CEO of the struggling Wet Seal chain, most recently from September 2014 to August 2015. During that time he led the company through its January 2015 bankruptcy filing and sale in April to Versa Capital Management. Thomas has also been a partner at KarpReilly LLC, a private investment firm focused on small to mid-size growth companies.
“Based on his track record, extensive industry experience and depth of insight into Tilly’s, Ed is uniquely qualified for this position,” said Hezy Shaked, Executive Chairman of the company’s board of directors in a statement. “In addition to his broad-ranging operational and strategic experience, Ed’s leadership skills and passion make him the ideal choice to lead Tilly’s into the future.”
Advertisement
The retailer operates 219 stores offering a mix of West Coast-inspired apparel, footwear and accessories. Tilly’s reported net sales of $130 million for its most recent quarter, a 6% increase over the $123 million in sales for the same period the previous year.
