Shapiro takes helm at catalog

By Andrea Lillo -- Home Textiles Today, 1/26/2004 12:00:00 AM

RYE, N.Y. —

Lillian Vernon Corp., the catalog and online retailer, has appointed Jonathan Shapiro as president. He will be responsible for growing the catalog and Internet businesses, extending the Lillian Vernon brand, and developing new business.

The move comes two weeks after Ripplewood Holdings and ZelnickMedia — both of which bought Lillian Vernon last July — announced they had acquired Time Life Inc., the global music and video direct-marketing subsidiary of Time Inc. Direct Holdings Worldwide was then formed to be the parent company of Lillian Vernon and Time Life Inc. Strauss Zelnick became chairman and CEO of the new entity, with ZelnickMedia responsible for the day-to-day management of the company.

For the past year, Shapiro had been working with ZelnickMedia and Lillian Vernon as a management consultant. Prior to Lillian Vernon, Shapiro held senior management positions as McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, and DoubleClick, an Internet marketing firm.

"Jonathan has demonstrated his leadership, vision, talent and drive," said Zelnick. "He understands the changing nature of direct marketing and will be a welcome addition to our management team."