Former Vans CEO Joins Global Brands Group

Global Brands Group, an independent, international brand management, retail and licensing company, names Gary H. Schoenfeld as co-CEO and president. Schoenfeld's primary responsibilities include the company's retail, merchandising, and food and beverage initiatives as well as finance, human resources and information technology. Prior to joining Global Brand Group in 2006, Schoenfeld was president and CEO of Vans Inc. until it was acquired by VF Corporation in 2004. For nine years, Schoenfeld led the successful turnaround and four-fold growth of Vans into a leading youth lifestyle brand. As it became the seventh largest athletic footwear company worldwide, Schoenfeld expanded Vans operations to include more than 150 of its own retail stores and a 10-fold increase in its business internationally.