Tulin, Luft Promoted at Swank

NEW YORK – John Tulin, chief executive officer of Swank Inc., has been named to the additional title of chairman of the company. Eric Luft, president of the company’s men’s division, has added the title of president of the firm previously held by Tulin.

Additionally, Jerold Kassner, chief financial officer of the company, has added the title of executive vice president. He will continue to serve as CFO, treasurer and secretary.

“Rick and Jerry have done a phenomenal job,” Tulin told MRketplace.com. “We have grown at a terrific pace and are positioning ourselves to take full advantage of all opportunities have all kinds of plans on the drawing board, so we felt that it was time to add a bit more clout at the top.”

In recent years, Swank has returned to profitability, launched several licensed and private brands, and overhauled its sourcing. More recently, it was licensed to manufacture and market men’s accessories under the Tumi label. Along with Ted Baker, Tumi is managed through Swank’s new luxury division.

Tulin has been a director of Swank since 1975 and became president and CEO of the company in 1995. Luft was divisional vice president of the men’s accessories division and was promoted to senior vice president in 1993 prior to his appointment as president of the men’s division. He became a member of the company’s board of directors in 2000.

Kassner has been CFO of Swank since 1997.

The title of chairman has been vacant since the death of Marshall Tulin, John’s father, last year.

In addition to Tumi and Ted Baker, Swank’s licensed brands include Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Claiborne, Guess, Geoffrey Beene, Chaps and Steve Harvey.