Ari Hoffman, chief executive officer of Scotch & Soda USA, has been named ceo of Ted Baker’s North American business, a newly created role. He’ll join the U.K.-based brand in December.
Hoffman has been with Scotch & Soda for the past four years. Before that, he was president and ceo of Benetton’s U.S. operations. He has also worked for Gant USA, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and Lacoste over the course of his 30-plus years in the apparel industry.
Ted Baker has been mired in controversy for much of the past year after its founder, Ray Kelvin, was accused by employees of inappropriate touching and behavior in the workplace. Kelvin denied the allegations but resigned his position in March following a voluntary leave of absence. He did, however, retain his stock in the publicly traded company. Kelvin, who owns 35 percent of the business, was rumored over the summer to be contemplating a private equity buyout of the company. Since July, however, those rumors have quieted.
In April, Ted Baker elevated Lindsay Page to ceo. He had been with the company since 1997 and was acting ceo while the harassment charges were investigated. Page said of Hoffman: “We are delighted to announce that
Hoffman has been with Scotch & Soda for the past four years. Before that, he was president and ceo of Benetton’s U.S. operations. He has also worked for Gant USA, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and Lacoste over the course of his 30-plus years in the apparel industry.
Ted Baker has been mired in controversy for much of the past year after its founder, Ray Kelvin, was accused by employees of inappropriate touching and behavior in the workplace. Kelvin denied the allegations but resigned his position in March following a voluntary leave of absence. He did, however, retain his stock in the publicly traded company. Kelvin, who owns 35 percent of the business, was rumored over the summer to be contemplating a private equity buyout of the company. Since July, however, those rumors have quieted.
In April, Ted Baker elevated Lindsay Page to ceo. He had been with the company since 1997 and was acting ceo while the harassment charges were investigated. Page said of Hoffman: “We are delighted to announce that