Quaker's Degomes retires; sells stock

FALL RIVER, MA — Tony Degomes, vp, new business development at Quaker Fabric, has elected to take early retirement.

Degomes has sold his interest in Nortex Holdings Inc. — which holds 17.2 percent of Quaker's shares, according to Quaker's annual meeting notice — to Larry Liebenow, president and ceo of Quaker, and Duncan Whitehead, Quaker's vp of research and technology. Prior to this transaction, Liebenow held 18.8 percent of Quaker's shares and Whitehead held 17.6 percent, the same amount as Degomes.

Degomes, a long-time associate of Liebenow and Whitehead, most recently was responsible for launching Quaker's contract fabric program targeted to the office and hospitality segments.

Liebenow said, "Tony and his team have done an outstanding job of paving the way for a major move by Quaker into the office and hospitality segment of the fabric industry. And we are definitely going to miss him."

Bea Spires, vp, styling and design, will be responsible for the design and development of the company's contract fabric line as well as the residential line. Tom Muzekari, vp, marketing, will be responsible for the marketing and distribution of the products into the contract market.