NEW YORK — Textile treatments specialist Nano-Tex has added three product marketing veterans to its executive ranks to beef up its North American apparel and home furnishings businesses.
Marilyn Werner, a 27-year textile veteran, joins the Emeryville, Calif., company as vice president of business development for the New York apparel market. Werner previously worked in product development at DuPont Textiles and Interiors, where her work led to the first use of the company’s Coolmax performance fabric in ready-to-wear. During her career, Werner has also worked at Danskin Inc. and Burlington Industries, among others.
Nicole Nelson joins the company, also as vice president of business development, with a focus on the activewear and intimate apparel markets. Nelson previously headed product development at Unifi, one of the world’s largest producers of polyester and nylon yarn. She spent seven years creating products for Unifi and is considered an expert in dyeing and additives in the socks, hosiery, circular knit and warp knit markets, according to the company.
Wendy Riley has been appointed vice president of business development for the company’s home furnishings accounts. Riley previously was an account manager for Newell Rubbermaid.
All three positions are new ones and will report to Renée Hultin, president of Nano-Tex Americas.
Nano-Tex has aggressively expanded its management in the past year, adding seven positions since September 2004 to expand its presence in markets across the country. The company has also benefited from growing financial support from some of the biggest names in financing.
In March, the company said it had received a $35 million investment for product development, marketing and geographic expansion. Wilbur Ross’ W.L. Ross & Co. led the round of financing and was joined by Masters Capital and Firelake Capital Management, which had previously invested in the company. Norwest Venture Partners and Howard Hughes Medical Institute were new investors.
Hultin was unavailable for comment Monday, but said in a statement, “In the past year alone, we more than doubled the number of mills, brands and products utilizing Nano-Tex treatments.”
More than 80 textile mills worldwide license Nano-Tex’s treatments, a chemical process that makes fabrics liquid-repellent and static- and wrinkle-resistant. Gap Inc., Brooks Bros., Nike and Levi Strauss & Co. are among the companies that use fibers with the firm’s treatments.