The Jones Group Inc. Announces the Addition of Design Talent
Respected industry veteran Jeffrey Thorpe joins the Jones New York brand
NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jones Group Inc. (NYSE: JNY) today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Thorpe as Vice President and Creative Director for the Jones New York brand. The addition of Mr. Thorpe, a proven design talent, will help the Company continue to evolve the brand's 40 year history of dressing women for success.
Richard Dickson, The Jones Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Branded Businesses, said: "Attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry has always been one of our top priorities. Introducing new talent excites and complements our outstanding existing team and leads to tremendous creativity and innovation."
Jeffrey Thorpe is a seasoned designer who has designed for iconic labels including Barneys and Ann Taylor. Most recently he was Creative Director of Magaschoni. Thorpe studied fashion, and graduated with honors from Kingston University in London. Thorpe has begun working on the Fall 2012 Jones New York collection that will show to retailers in March 2012. He reports to Susie Rieland, Chief Merchandising Officer.
Jeffrey Thorpe, Jones New York Vice President and Creative Director, said: "I am excited to join The Jones Group team and look forward to helping to continue the Company's mission of dressing women for success, and redefining what women wear to work in new and interesting ways."
Susan Metzger, Chief Executive Officer, Women's Wholesale Better Sportswear, said: "We are thrilled to have Jeffrey join the Jones New York brand. He brings not only his extensive womenswear experience but also a fresh, modern energy to his designs with a strong focus on sportswear details, knitwear and compelling prints. We welcome him to The Jones Group family and look forward to his contributions to this truly collaborative design team."
About The Jones Group Inc.
The Jones Group Inc. (www.jonesgroupinc.com) is a leading global designer, marketer and wholesaler of over 35 brands with best-in-class product expertise across five divisions: apparel, footwear, jeanswear, jewelry and handbags. The Jones Group has a reputation for innovation, excellence in product quality and value, operational execution and talent. The Company also markets directly to consumers through branded specialty retail and outlet stores and through its e-commerce sites.
The Company's internationally recognized brands and licensing agreements (L) include: Nine West, Jones New York, Anne Klein, Kurt Geiger, Rachel Roy (L), Robert Rodriguez, Robbi & Nikki, Stuart Weitzman, B Brian Atwood (L), KG by Kurt Geiger, Boutique 9, Easy Spirit, Carvela, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i., Bandolino, Enzo Angiolini, Nine & Co., GLO, Joan & David, Miss KG, Jones Wear, Kasper, Energie, Evan-Picone, Le Suit, Mootsies Tootsies, Grane, Erika, Napier, Jessica Simpson (L), Dockers (L), Sam & Libby, Givenchy (L), Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Pappagallo.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding the Company's expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include representations of the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including:
- those associated with the effect of national, regional and international economic conditions;
- lowered levels of consumer spending resulting from a general economic downturn or lower levels of consumer confidence;
- the tightening of the credit markets and the Company's ability to obtain capital on satisfactory terms;
- given the uncertain economic environment, the possible unwillingness of committed lenders to meet their obligations to lend to borrowers, in general;
- the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail environment;
- customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product lines;
- the Company's reliance on a few department store groups for large portions of the Company's business;
- the Company's ability to identify acquisition candidates and, in a competitive environment for such acquisitions, acquire such businesses on reasonable financial and other terms;
- the integration of the organizations and operations of any acquired businesses into the Company's existing organization and operations;
- consolidation of the Company's retail customers;
- financial difficulties encountered by the Company's customers;
- the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which the Company operates;
- the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified executives and other key personnel;
- the Company's reliance on independent foreign manufacturers, including political instability in countries where contractors and suppliers are located;
- changes in the costs of raw materials, labor, advertising and transportation, including the impact such changes may have on the pricing of the Company's products and the resulting impact on consumer acceptance of the Company's products at higher price points;
- the Company's ability to successfully implement new operational and financial computer systems; and
- the Company's ability to secure and protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights.
A further description of these risks and uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, including, but not limited to, the Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure and Item 1A-Risk Factors therein, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may prove to be incorrect. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE The Jones Group Inc.
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