TORONTO, April 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Roots ("Roots," "Roots
Canada") (TSX: ROOT), a premium outdoor lifestyle brand, today
announced that Nancy Lepler has been
appointed Chief Merchant, effective May 13,
2019. An accomplished apparel and retail industry executive,
Ms. Lepler will drive the strategic global product direction and
performance of the Company's merchandising group across all
functions and product categories.
"Nancy is a passionate and highly-talented leader with extensive
retail and global merchandising experience, who is also an
outstanding cultural fit for Roots," said Jim Gabel, President and CEO, Roots. "She has a
proven track record of setting a global product vision for
billion-dollar brands and bringing outstanding consumer-focused
concepts and products to retail. Just as important, she has a deep
love for the Roots brand and a true appreciation for our
cabin-meets-city style. We are very pleased to welcome her to the
team."
In her role as Chief Merchant, Ms. Lepler will oversee product
design, category management, planning, buying and
sourcing across men's, women's, kid's, baby and toddler
apparel and accessories, as well as leather goods and
footwear. She will report to President and CEO, Mr.
Jim Gabel, and is joining Roots
following the departure of the Company's former Chief Merchant who
left Roots in February 2019.
"I am very excited to be joining Roots, a brand I grew up with,"
said Nancy Lepler. "I look forward
to working with the talented Roots team to bring further excitement
to consumers by introducing new products that represent the unique
combination of comfort and style that Roots is known for, while
also celebrating the brand's rich 45-year heritage through
compelling global product design and merchandising."
Ms. Lepler brings more than 25 years of merchandising and retail
experience to Roots from a variety of lifestyle apparel and
accessories brands. Her past leadership roles include Vice
President and General Merchandising Manager at DKNY Retail /G-111
Apparel Group Ltd. in New York
City where she led the strategic omni-channel retail vision
as well as merchandising and design for women's and men's apparel,
accessories and footwear for the DKNY retail and eCommerce
channels. Ms. Lepler also served as Vice President of Merchandising
for Aeropostale's billion-dollar women's apparel, accessories and
active divisions, including the development and implementation of
brand collaborations. Ms. Lepler has also held a variety of
other senior merchandising leadership roles including: Head
Merchant at Calvin Klein/ G-111 Apparel Group Ltd.; Senior Vice
President of Design and Merchandising at the Donna Karen Company;
and Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer at The
Jones Apparel Group. Fluent in French, Ms. Lepler has worked
extensively in the U.S. and Canada
and holds a fashion merchandising degree from Ryerson University as well as a Bachelor of Arts
from the University of Western
Ontario.
About Roots
Established in 1973, Roots is a premium
outdoor lifestyle brand. We unite the best of cabin and city
through unmistakable style built with uncompromising comfort and
quality. We offer a broad range of products that embody a
comfortable cabin-meets-city style including: women's and men's
apparel, leather goods, footwear, accessories and kid's, toddler
and baby apparel. Starting from a little cabin in Algonquin Park, Canada, Roots has grown to
become a global brand. As of February 2,
2019, we had 114 stores in Canada, seven in the
United States, 117 partner-operated stores in Taiwan, 37 partner-operated stores in
China, and a global eCommerce
platform. Roots Corporation is a Canadian corporation doing
business as "Roots" and "Roots Canada".
Forward-Looking Information
Certain information in
this press release contains forward-looking information. This
information is based on management's reasonable assumptions and
beliefs in light of the information currently available to us and
are made as of the date of this press release. Actual results and
the timing of events may differ materially from those anticipated
in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors.
Information regarding our expectations of future results,
performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the
markets in which we operate is forward-looking information.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not facts but
instead represent management's expectations, estimates and
projections regarding future events or circumstances. Many factors
could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or
achievements or future events or developments to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements.
See "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in the
Company's current Annual Information Form for a discussion of the
uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these
statements. Readers are urged to consider the uncertainties, risks
and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking
information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
information. We have no intention and undertake no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable securities law.
SOURCE Roots Corporation