Warnaco Vet Roger Williams Resigns

NEW YORK – Roger Williams, one of the few executives to work at Warnaco both before and after its 2001 bankruptcy, has resigned as president of the company’s swimwear group.

Warnaco said late Wednesday that Williams had resigned for personal reasons but didn’t elaborate. Until his successor is named, Speedo president Sherry Waterson and designer swimwear president Paula Schneider will report directly to Joe Gromek, president and chief executive officer of Warnaco.

Williams was at Olga when it was acquired by Warnaco in the 1980s. He served as chief operating officer of the Olga division before he was promoted to president of Warnaco retail and later executive vice president and chief financial officer of the corporation. He shifted to Authentic Fitness Corp., later a Warnaco subsidiary, in 1990 before leaving to join Donna Karan as executive VP in 1992. He relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1994 to become executive VP of Guess before forming his own consulting firm in 1998.

He rejoined Warnaco as swimwear group chief in 2002.

In a statement, Gromek said, “We thank Roger for his efforts and contributions to our Swimwear Group during the last four and a half years and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”