NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading underwear brand Tommy John has tapped industry leader Cheryl Abel-Hodges as its new Chief Executive Officer. Last week, she joined Tommy John’s executive team from her former role as Calvin Klein’s Chief Executive Officer. She will work closely with brand founders, Tom Patterson and Erin Fujimoto to build the Tommy John brand through continued wholesale expansion and product innovation.
Abel-Hodges brings extensive experience in the underwear and apparel space through her nearly 30 years within the fashion industry including executive stints as President of the PVH Underwear Group, President of Wholesale Sportswear at Izod, Vice President of Sales and Planning at Ralph Lauren, and Vice President General Manager of Apparel at Liz Claiborne.
Abel-Hodges joins Tommy John at an inflection point as it has doubled its wholesale footprint since 2022 and is expected to increase its retail presence by 40% before the end of the year. Under her leadership, the brand will further invest in wholesale, pursue new product innovations rooted in comfort, and continue to grow and evolve the brand toward the future.
“Tom and Erin have built an amazing company over the last 15 years with products that push the industry forward,” said Cheryl Abel-Hodges. “I’ve closely followed Tommy John over the years and am deeply impressed with the unique brand voice, product, and consumer brand loyalists. Alongside Tom, Erin and the incredible Tommy John team, I’m so excited to lead the next chapter of growth, evolution and innovation.”
“When we founded Tommy John 15 years ago, we had a simple goal of creating more comfortable solutions and building a business that will be around for the ages,” said Tom Patterson, Co-Founder of Tommy John. “Cheryl shares that very same vision, and with her extensive experience building and growing iconic heritage brands, she will be invaluable to Tommy John’s continued expansion.”
“Cheryl is a true visionary leader,” adds Erin Fujimoto, Co-Founder of Tommy John. “We are truly humbled by Cheryl’s passion for the brand and are so excited for this next chapter of Tommy John.”
This announcement comes after the brand announced a strategic partnership with LNK Partners in 2022, where Manny Chirico, former PVH Chairman and CEO and David Landau, Co-founder and Managing Partner at LNK Partners joined Tommy John’s Board of Directors.
About Tommy John
Tommy John is a comfort-focused lifestyle brand committed to addressing the real problems that men and women have with their clothing. Each product contains proprietary fabrics, innovative fit, and functionality that eliminates unnecessary discomfort and adjustments. Tommy John launched in 2008 with the world’s first patented undershirt with a stay-tucked guarantee and has since expanded into underwear, bras, loungewear, and apparel. Tommy John products can be found in over 3,000 retail locations including Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Scheels, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and in Tommy John stores in SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Houston Galleria in Houston, Texas, The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tennessee, Southlake Town Square just outside of Dallas, Texas, The Summit in Birmingham, Alabama, and online at tommyjohn.com.
For more information visit tommyjohn.com and @tommyjohnwear on social media.
