Rich Biegel Out at Hartmarx

CHICAGO – Executives at Chicago-based Hartmarx said that Richard Biegel, the group president of HMX Tailored in the company’s Men’s Apparel Group, was fired yesterday.

“I can confirm that he was terminated effective immediately,” stated Hartmarx CEO Homi Patel. “His responsibilities on an interim basis have been taken over and Steve Weiner will remain as chief operating officer of the division. We have searches under way for a permanent replacement.”

In June of this year, MRkeplace.com reported that Hartmarx was profitable again after ailing in the first quarter of 2007. Though the company’s numbers in the moderate tailored clothing business – which were Biegel’s responsibility – weren’t where upper management wanted them, an undisclosed source close to the company confirmed that his firing was sudden and not performance related.

Hartmarx produces the brands Hart Schaffner Marx and Hickey-Freeman, and licenses certain products for such brands as Austin Reed, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry men’s tailored clothing and Ted Baker.