USA-ITA Appoints New Chairman

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 8/15/2005 12:00:00 AM

New York —

The United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel has elected Bob Zane, current senior vice president of Liz Claiborne Inc., to serve as chairman of its board of directors.

Zane is the fifth chairman of USA-ITA and succeeds Peter McGrath, chairman, JCPenney Purchasing Corporation, who served since 2001. McGrath stepped down from the position due to expanding responsibilities at JCPenney.

Zane is active in developing the next phase of Liz Claiborne Inc.'s sourcing strategy and serves as special advisor to the CEO on matters of foreign trade and vendor relationships.

He joined the company in 1995 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility, including most recently senior vice president, manufacturing, sourcing, distribution and logistics. In that position, he crafted the vision and architecture of Liz Claiborne Inc.'s manufacturing strategy. Zane is also a founding member of the board of directors of the Fair Labor Association, an organization pioneering the independent monitoring of factories throughout the world.