Luis Padilla Joins ENK as President

NEW YORK – Luis Padilla has joined ENK International in the new post of president.

Padilla comes to ENK after a long and distinguished retail career that included major posts with Sears and the Target and Marshall Field’s divisions of Target Corp.

At ENK, he reports to Elyse Kroll, chairman and chief creative officer.

Reached by phone, Padilla told MRketplace.com, “It’s great to be in a smaller, more entrepreneurial company with unlimited potential. As a buyer I always had great respect for the way Elyse was really a show manager, rather than just a seller of real estate. She built this business intuitively and she’s done a remarkable job.

“I see my role as bringing in some of the planning, building and infrastructure to help it grow to the next level more efficiently,” he concluded.

Kroll, who founded ENK as the promotional arm of the Designers’ Collective in 1979, commented, “Luis brings a lot to the table. His background fascinates me because was the ultimate end user of ENK events. So far, I am truly enjoying having him with me to plan the future.”

Padilla was named president of merchandising of Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 2004 following 22 years with Target Corp., most recently as executive vice president of merchandising for the Marshall Field’s division (subsequently sold to May Department Stores and later Federated Department Stores). Prior to that he was senior vice president of softlines merchandising for Target Stores from 1994 to 2001.

He also served briefly as chairman, chief executive officer and chief creative officer of Kuhlman Co. beginning in late 2005 and, in the past year, as a retail consultant.

Highlighted by The Collective and Fashion Coterie, ENK’s roster of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel trade shows also includes Blue, Intermezzo, Brighte and Accessorie Circuit.