John Ermatinger Named CEO of True Religion

by Harry Sheff

John_Ermatinger_PortraitTrue Religion has named John Ermatinger as its new chief executive, effective immediately, replacing David Conn.

Ermatinger, who has been serving as True Religion’s interim SVP of global sourcing and production, was CEO of Tommy Hilfiger’s Asia business from 2011 to 2013 and served as president of Gap’s Japan and Asia-Pacific business between 2006 and 2011. He has also held high level positions at Nike and Levi Strauss.

“John is a seasoned industry veteran who will lead True Religion towards more accelerated growth,” commented True Religion chairman John Anderson in a statement. “His strong management skills, deep experience at leading apparel companies and appreciation for high quality product is the right combination to drive True Religion’s transformation forward. On behalf of TowerBrook and the Board, I thank David for his leadership and his contributions which resulted in significant progress across the business.”

TowerBrook Capital Partners acquired True Religion in 2013 for $835 million.

“I am impressed with all that True Religion has achieved since TowerBrook’s acquisition and I look forward to working with the company’s talented leadership and associates to further this success,” added Ermatinger. “True Religion has re-designed its product line and brand platform, launched compelling collaborations with style leaders, and enhanced the customer experience with a remodel of its retail stores, implementation of omni-channel functionality and a new e-commerce platform. I am eager to build on the Company’s strong foundation, position the iconic brand for the future and further advance True Religion’s transformation.”