Stravitz Resigns Top Brylane Post

Russell Stravitz has resigned as chairman/CEO of $1.6 billion multititle mailer Brylane. The New York-based mailer, part of the RedCats division of French-based conglomerate Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, mails a stable of apparel and home decor catalogs that include Chadwick’s of Boston, Lane Bryant, Roaman’s, and Brylane Home. Stravitz will continue to serve as chairman/CEO through the end of the year.

RedCats has appointed Eric Faintreny as the successor to Stravitz, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Currently Faintreny is chairman/CEO of RedCats Nordic. During the transition, Stravitz will be available for consultation.

Stravitz took over the reigns at Brylane in May 2000, when CEO/chairman Peter Canzone retired after 31 years with the company.

The announcement came on Nov. 11, four days after Chadwick’s of Boston laid off 130 workers at its distribution centers in Taunton and West Bridgewater, MA. According to a Nov. 7 story in the Taunton “Gazette,” there will be 420 workers in Taunton and 87 in the West Bridgewater plant following the layoffs.