J. Crew Names New Head of Women’s Design, Eliminates 175 Jobs

NEW YORK, United States — J. Crew Group Inc. named Somsack Sikhounmuong head of women's design for its flagship brand and said it will eliminate 175 positions, shaking up its business after a sales decline.

Tom Mora, the former J. Crew head of women's design, is leaving the company, the New York-based retailer said in a statement Wednesday. Sikhounmuong, who was head of design for the company's Madewell brand for the last two years, will continue to report to Jenna Lyons, executive creative director of J. Crew Group.

Chief Executive Officer Mickey Drexler is making the changes a week after the company reported disappointing first- quarter results. Sales at its J. Crew brand fell 5.2 percent in the period, hurt by problems in its women's business.

“We are making meaningful and strategic changes across our organization to better position us for future growth,” Drexler said in the statement. “While many of these decisions were difficult, they are necessary.”

The 175 job cuts will mostly come from positions at its corporate headquarters, the company said.

Joyce Lee, meanwhile, will succeed Sikhounmuong at Madewell. Lee, a member of the brand's design team for seven years, has previously worked at Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs. Lee will also report to Lyons.

J. Crew was said to be exploring an initial public offering last year, though it didn’t move forward with the idea. Drexler and private-equity firms TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners LP took the retailer private in 2011.

By Lindsey Rupp, Kim Bhasin; editors: Nick Turner, John Lear.