PITTSBURGH: Kekst and Company and ICR are supporting American Eagle Outfitters on internal and external communications after the apparel retailer's CEO, Robert Hanson, unexpectedly stepped down last Wednesday.
Board chairman Jay Schottenstein began serving as American Eagle's interim CEO immediately after the announcement. He was previously the company's chief executive from March 1992 to December 2002.
The retailer said it is looking for a permanent replacement for Hanson and did not disclose why he is leaving or where he is going. Hanson joined American Eagle in January 2012 after serving as global president of the Levi's brand.
Kekst and ICR did not share the retailer's internal or external communications strategy in regards to the senior level changes.
A company representative confirmed that American Eagle has an ongoing relationship with Kekst, and ICR is its AOR for corporate communications, but did not answer other emails or phone calls about its communications strategy. Shadow PR works on fashion and product news for the retailer.
The Pittsburgh-based company said last month that Chad Kessler will join as EVP and chief merchandising and design officer in February.
American Eagle said this month that its fourth-quarter earnings will be in the low end of its projections after established store sales fell 7% during the nine-week period that ended on January 4. Total sales in the period dropped 2% compared with the year prior.
