HARDWICK TAPS HICKEY FREEMAN AND SOUTHWICK ALUMS FOR NEW EXECUTIVE POSITIONS

Hardwick Clothes is adding to its executive team of industry experts with the new additions of John Diacatos and Finn Wald-Jacobsen. Diacatos will serve as the company’s vice president of manufacturing and Wald-Jacobsen will take on the role of director of engineering. Their arrival is part of a turnaround effort that began in July 2014 with Hardwick’s post-bankruptcy acquisition by Cleveland, Tennessee entrepreneur Allan Jones.

Prior to joining Hardwick, Diacatos spent 37 years with luxury brand Hickey Freeman. There, he most recently served as Vice President of Manufacturing, managing the entire manufacturing process and spearheading the implementation of advanced manufacturing technology projects. In the key role of VP of Manufacturing at Hardwick, Diacatos will oversee all manufacturing operations.

Wald-Jacobsen joins the company after most recently serving as director of engineering at Southwick Apparel, a maker of Brooks Brothers’ tailored clothing. He has served as Plant Manager, Quality Control Manager and Senior Staff Engineer during his impressive tenure in apparel manufacturing. At Hardwick, Wald-Jacobsen will increase shop efficiencies and implement a new incentive-driven pay system to increase the earning potential for the company’s 300-plus operators.

Rounding out the newly hired leadership team is Lean Manufacturing Manager Sheila Waddell. Her experience in manufacturing, advanced product quality planning and lean manufacturing will be leveraged to integrate advanced techniques into Hardwick’s current operating processes.

“Hardwick Clothes has made significant strides in reestablishing itself as a national player in the tailored clothing industry,” said Hardwick CEO Bruce Bellusci. “Being named Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Style Award Winner and working with NBC’s national broadcasts of the NFL and NHL and the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics says a lot about our progress. The addition of John and Finn is instrumental in leveraging these opportunities and meeting our rapidly increasing demand.”

“In our rebranding of Hardwick, we had to attract the country’s best talent,” added Jones. “Now that we have the engineering skills of Southwick Apparel, manufacturing expertise of Hickey Freeman and sales and management talent from Hart Shaffner & Marx, we’re at the top. Bringing talent from these premier brands ensures America’s oldest tailor-made clothing manufacturer is now the best.”