Global Brands Group, an independent, international brand management, retail and licensing company, announced that Gary H. Schoenfeld has been named co-CEO and president. Schoenfeld's primary responsibilities include the company's retail, merchandising, and food and beverage initiatives as well as finance, human resources and information technology.
Prior to joining Global Brand Group in 2006, Schoenfeld was president and CEO of Vans, Inc. until it was acquired by VF Corporation in 2004. For nine years, Schoenfeld led the successful turnaround and four-fold growth of Vans into a leading youth lifestyle brand. As it became the seventh largest athletic footwear company worldwide, Schoenfeld expanded Vans operations to include over 150 of its own retail stores and a 10-fold increase in its business internationally. Prior to his time with Vans, Schoenfeld was a partner of McCown De Leeuw & Co., a $400 million private equity firm based in Menlo Park, CA.
“I have known Gary for many years and he is a world-class retail marketer and proven international brand manager,” said Global Brands Group co-founder Jonathan Sieff.
“Gary has a tremendous track record of successfully growing businesses in a smart and strategic manner,” added Mark Matheny, co-CEO and co-chairman. “His leadership experience, market savvy and innovative thinking are exactly the qualities we need to help move Global Brands Group forward.”
“I have tremendous passion for building brands, great teams and fantastic product that excites consumers in markets around the world,” Schoenfeld said. “As FIFA's exclusive master licensee worldwide for at least the next eight years, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity to leverage the world's most coveted championship and 100 years of unmatched heritage. The same can be said for our relationship with Disney in the emerging markets of Asia with 2.5 billion potential customers in China and India alone. I also have great respect and enthusiasm for the rest of our brand partners and the potential they each represent.”
Schoenfeld continued: “Our business model is centered around brand management and working with our partners to go far beyond traditional licensing. We are currently developing new retail platforms for FIFA, Disney and PGA TOUR that will further showcase their brands and create additional revenue opportunities that can be quite substantial and complementary to the rest of their business and the various product licensing initiatives which we are simultaneously pursuing.”
During his career Schoenfeld has served on the board of several companies including 11 years as a director for 24 Hour Fitness, Inc., the world's second largest chain of health clubs, which grew from $40 million in revenues in 1994 to $1.1 billion by 2005. Schoenfeld is currently a director of two private equity backed companies, Camelback Products, LLC, the leading provider of hands-free hydration systems used by athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and military/government professionals around the world, and Aritzia Holdings, Canada's leading independent lifestyle retailer for contemporary women aged 15-30.
Schoenfeld received his B.A. degree from University of California at Los Angeles, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Schoenfeld received his MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he also served as chairman of the Stanford GSB Management Board from 2004-2006.
