Textiles
Haelixa
Swiss traceability company Haelixa has appointed Petri Alava, founder and former CEO of Infinited Fiber Company, to its board of directors as it plans for global expansion. Alava led the textile-to-textile recycling company through a decade of development, guiding it through commercialization and large-scale funding rounds. His appointment follows Haelixa’s recent 2-million-euro ($2.31 million) capital raise. In this new role, Alava is expected to support the company’s next phase of industrial scale and supply chain deployment.
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Unspun
Apparel technology company Unspun has named Arne Arens as chief executive officer. Arens previously served as global brand president at The North Face and later led Boardriders—the action sports group behind Quiksilver, Billabong and Roxy, through its $1.25 billion acquisition by Authentic Brands Group. At Unspun, he will oversee the expansion of the San Francisco-based company’s localized production model designed to reduce overproduction and inventory risk.
Trade
The American Apparel & Footwear Association
The industry’s national trade association AAFA has named New Balance president and CEO Joe Preston chair of its board for the 2026-2027 term. Danilo Amoretty of Carhartt will serve as vice chair, while Chris Volpe of United Legwear & Apparel Co. will serve as treasurer and Gap Inc.’s Sally Gilligan serving as secretary. Ralph Lauren executive Halide Alagöz will transition to the role of past chair. The association also elected several new board members representing companies including Fabletics, G-III Apparel Group, Oxford Industries, VF Corp. and Eileen Fisher.
The New York Fashion Innovation Center
The NYFIC, a state-sponsored initiative designed to foster farm-to-fashion, has appointed Maureen Spillane as program manager. Spillane brings more than 20 years of experience in apparel supply chain operations, with previous roles at Rag & Bone, Diane von Furstenberg, Fendi North America and Coach. In her new role, she will oversee the center’s grant programs, accelerator initiatives and industry partnerships. The initiative focuses on strengthening New York’s regional fiber and textile supply chain.
Agricultural Technology
Avalo
AI-powered advanced crop-innovation agtech company Avalo has named Michael Kobori, former chief sustainability officer at Starbucks and former vice president of sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co., to its board of directors. As a member of the Cotton board and founding council member of the Better Cotton Initiative, Kobori brings a deep understanding of commercializing sustainable cotton, which is Avalo’s first scale-up crop.
Retail
REI Co-op
Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op has appointed Kim Waldmann as chief commercial officer, effective March 9. Waldmann joins from Foot Locker, where she most recently served as global chief customer officer, overseeing brand, digital, loyalty and in-store experience. In this new role, she will unify REI’s commercial operations across stores, e-commerce and broader business functions. Prior to Foot Locker, she held leadership roles at Athleta and Sephora, focused on digital growth and omnichannel strategy.
Brands
Kering
Luxury conglomerate Kering is reorganizing its leadership structure by creating two new group divisions focused on “Industry and Client” operations. As part of the shift, Stéphane Noël has been named chief industrial officer, effective April 1, and will join the executive committee reporting to CEO Luca de Meo. Carlo Mocci will join as chief client officer beginning May 4, overseeing functions tied to product strategy, marketing, distribution and customer data. The appointments are part of a broader effort to streamline operational oversight across the group’s luxury house portfolio.
