Michael Fernandez, the chief commercial officer of The Levy Group who oversaw the Roxy, Volcom, and Dakine licenses, among others, is exiting the company to join Catalyst Brands.
Fernandez has been named chief wholesale and business development officer at the company, where he will oversee domestic and international wholesale operations and business-to-business, licensing, and business development efforts across the company’s brand portfolio, which includes Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, JCPenney and Nautica.
Catalyst Brands was established in 2025 when JCPenney and the former SPARC Group combined. Shareholders of Catalyst Brands include Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, Authentic Brands Group, and Shein. The company operates 1,800 retail stores, shop-in-shops, and ecommerce platforms throughout the U.S. and Canada. It also serves wholesale accounts in North America and internationally.
Here at SESO, we have heard good things about Fernandez and the brand teams that worked with him at The Levy Group, including how he helped a longtime former Volcom employee who still works with the brand who was in a difficult situation because of a seriously ill relative. It was story of generosity and empathy that one doesn’t often hear about in company structures. Fernandez was also respected for how he spent real time getting to know how the surf industry works.
Fernandez will report directly to Marc Rosen, Catalyst Brands’ CEO, and will join the company’s senior leadership team.
Fernandez spent nearly a decade at The Levy Group Inc., where he served as chief commercial officer and chief merchandising officer. In that role, he led commercial strategy, merchandising, sales, and brand development across a portfolio of lifestyle and performance brands, including Nautica. He was responsible for driving growth through wholesale expansion, licensing partnerships, and retail relationships.
Prior to The Levy Group, Fernandez held senior leadership roles at Perry Ellis International, where he worked across several brands including Original Penguin, Perry Ellis, Callaway, and Nike Swim. He has more than 20 years of experience in the fashion and consumer goods sectors.
“Michael brings a wealth of strategic experience with specialty retail brands, which makes him uniquely well-positioned to drive our growth as we scale our retail and wholesale presence,” said Catalyst Brands CEO Marc Rosen in a statement. “His experience even working with some of Catalyst’s brands, and his ability to build significant retail relationships will be key as we continue working toward our mission of igniting America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.”
“Catalyst Brands is a powerhouse organization comprised of iconic retail brands and exceptional leaders; I’m looking forward to building on our strong existing partnerships and developing new relationships that will only further that growth,” Fernandez said in a statement.
