DAVID WITMAN TO RETIRE FROM NORDSTROM POST NEXT MONTH

David Witman, EVP and GMM of menswear at Nordstrom, will be retiring on February 15 after 27 years at the retailer.

In 1990 Witman began his Nordstrom career as a salesperson in Seattle. It didn’t take long to recognize his talent as a smart men’s merchant who knew how to drive and deliver strong results. In ’91 he moved to Chicago as the first men’s sportswear buyer and played a critical role in helping pioneer the Midwest region. From there, Witman became a regional buyer, then a regional DMM before being promoted to the men’s GMM for the company in 2000. During his tenure as the leader of menswear, Witman and his team grew the business by more than double.

“We will be forever indebted to David Witman and his numerous contributions over many years at Nordstrom,” said Pete Nordstrom, co-president of Nordstrom.  “As our GMM for menswear, David has achieved consistent growth through excellent execution and category expertise. He is a highly respected and admired leader both inside Nordstrom and in our industry. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy for building a culture of results through a well performing team.”

“I’ve worked with David for the many years he’s been part of MR‘s Retail Advisory Board and I am always impressed with his keen understanding of the nuances of the menswear business,” added Karen Alberg Grossman, editor-in-chief of MR magazine. “He has been a tremendous help to so many menswear vendors by sharing insights and advice, and obviously a Nordstrom star, leading a team that doubled menswear volume under his guidance. On top of his many accomplishments, we will also miss David’s wry sense of humor. Like everyone in the industry, we wish him quality time with his beautiful family.”

Look for a more in depth feature with Witman in the near future.