Soon after its current CEO Yehuda Shmidman steps down from the board of directors, Sequential Brands Group has decided to bring in Karen Murray as its new chief executive officer. Murray will also serve as director of the company.
“Karen Murray has outstanding leadership skills and industry experience and she has demonstrated her ability to activate and grow successful brands,” says William Sweedler, chairman of the board, Sequential.
“We are excited to have an executive of Karen’s caliber join and lead our team at Sequential to grow with us. I have admired her and watched her thrive in her career, and I am pleased that we will be able to work together,” he added.
Recently, Murray was the president of VF Sportswear, a subsidiary of VF Corporation. During her tenure, she oversaw the $1.2 billion global brand Nautica as well as Kipling.
Murray began her career at Gant, where she remained for nine years before transition to Liz Claiborne, where she assumed several positions throughout her tenure, including president from 1998 to 2007.
Shmidman joined Sequential in 2012 as CEO. During his tenure, the company bought a raft of brands, including the clothing lines of Jessica Simpson and Justin Timberlake, Ellen Tracy and Martha Stewart Omnimedia.
Earlier, he worked at Iconix Brand Group, where he held a number of positions, including executive vice president of operations and senior vice president of business development, before taking on the position of chief operating officer.
n 2016, the Group reported $4 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise worldwide. It’s current portfolio of brands includes Joe’s, Martha Stewart, Jessica Simpson, Caribbean Joe, Emeril Lagasse and Gaiam, among others.
