Press release and Shop-eat-surf reporting:
The new owner of the DVS brand has hired a CEO from Iconix Brand Group, a large brand licensing company.
Sequential Brands Group, which bought DVS in a bankruptcy court auction, announced that Yehuda Shmidman will replace Colin Dyne as CEO. Dyne speared headed the acquisition of DVS and helped transition Sequential into a licensing model. Dyne will also leave the board of directors.
Shmidman’s most recent job at Iconix was COO.
“With Yehuda’s proven track record, we are confident that we have the leader in place to execute our brand management and licensing playbook going forward,” Sequential Chairman William Sweedler said in a press release. “Sequential is embarking on the launch of the William Rast brand at J.C. Penney, and it has signed new cornerstone licensing agreements for its DVS and People’s Liberation brands. Under Yehuda’s direction, we look forward to Sequential continuing to build on the organic growth of its current brands and executing its pipeline of accretive acquisitions.”
Sequential signed a licensing agreement for DVS footwear with Elan Polo International, a footwear company headquartered in St. Louis. Many of the original DVS team, including Kevin Dunlap, are working in Southern California on the DVS brand.
RSA & Associates is the DVS apparel licensee.
