ST. LOUIS, March 30 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Kellwood Company announced senior management promotions today for Smart Shirts Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary based in Hong Kong. According to Robert C. Skinner, Jr., Kellwood chairman, president and chief executive officer, Jesse C. P. Zee, managing director of Smart Shirts, will be promoted to chairman, and Gerald (Gerry) Rhoads, currently deputy managing director, will be named managing director.
Prior to joining Smart Shirts in 1995, Zee had earlier served in the leadership role for Esquel Enterprises Ltd. as managing director for ten years. Rhoads, a seasoned Kellwood executive with over 30 years of service, has held various finance, administration, and operations positions with the Company. In 1995, he moved to the Smart Shirts organization in Hong Kong as vice president finance and administration.
Michael T. Gilson has been named senior vice president of finance for Smart Shirts. He joined Kellwood in July 2006 as director of special projects from May Department Stores International (MDSI), a division of May Department Stores Company, where he served in various financial management roles over a 22-year tenure. His most recent post at MDSI was senior vice president and chief financial officer.
W. Lee Capps, III, Kellwood chief operating officer and chief financial officer, will assume responsibility for the oversight of Smart Shirts. Previously the organization reported to Skinner. All changes are effective April 1, 2007.
Commenting on the moves, Skinner said "The senior management team at Smart Shirts has led us to excellent levels of sales and earnings, and has further enhanced the division's premier reputation in the marketplace. These changes recognize Jesse's and Gerry's outstanding leadership over the past 12 years, and allow us to transition successfully to the next generation of management."
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Kellwood (NYSE: KWD), a $1.9 billion marketer of apparel and consumer soft goods, specializes in branded as well as private label products, and markets to all channels of distribution with product specific to a particular channel. For more information, visit http://www.kellwood.com .
