Springs exec retires after three decades

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/18/2001 12:00:00 AM

FORT MILL, SC — Clarence McMerty, president of Springs Industries' Baby Products division, announced his retirement after almost three decades in the home textiles industry.

McMerty will leave the major mill, based here, on Oct. 1. He began his career with Dundee Mills as product director in 1972 and was later named vp, marketing in 1978. After Springs acquired Dundee in 1995, McMerty was named vp, sales and marketing. In 1998, he was president of the Baby Products division.

Replacing him will be Kevin Carlisle, vp, marketing services, bed and bath, who will be named vp/gm, Baby Products. Carlisle, who will report to Springs executive vp Tom O'Connor, joined Springs in 1995 as vp, market planning and has also served in various marketing, strategic planning and merchandising positions for the bedding and diversified products divisions. He was named vp, marketing services in 1998 and has had responsibility for product packaging, point-of-purchase, licensing and marketing support for bed and bath products. Part of Carlisle's new responsibilities will be to continue to integrate the sales teams of baby products with Springs' account teams.