Lionel Conacher to lead Destination XL as interim chief executive officer

US big and tall men’s wear retailer Destination XL Group, Inc. (DXL) has announced that board chairman Lionel Conacher will assume the additional role of interim chief executive officer, effective August 12, 2026. Conacher will retain his responsibilities as chairman of the board.

The executive appointment follows the retirement of Harvey Kanter, who will step down as chief executive officer and board director on August 11, 2026, after leading the company for more than seven years.

“We are executing a clear strategy to return the company to profitability against a challenging market backdrop, taking decisive action to reduce our cost structure and evolve our assortment, promotional strategy and customer experience,” said Conacher in a press statement. Conacher noted that key growth focus areas will include the rollout of the proprietary sizing technology FiTMAP, continued artificial intelligence investments, and operational adjustments in response to rising GLP-1 weight-loss drug adoption among consumers.

Strategic execution and governance shifts

Conacher joined the board of directors at DXL in June 2018 and was appointed chairman in August 2020. The executive brings operational and financial leadership experience, having previously served as interim chief executive officer and director at SRx Health Solutions, Inc. between 2021 and 2025. His background also includes serving as managing partner of Next Ventures, senior advisor to private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners, and president and chief operating officer at investment bank Thomas Weisel Partners.

In light of the new executive responsibilities, Conacher will step down as chair of the audit committee and as a member of the compensation committee. Concurrently, board member Carmen Bauza has been appointed lead independent director. The board will initiate a search process to identify a permanent successor.

Outgoing chief executive officer Kanter highlighted the leadership transition, stating: “Lionel has significant M&A experience that will help us navigate both the FullBeauty merger transaction and Zodiac Partners’ unsolicited tender offer in the near term. He also has a deep understanding of our business. I am confident he is the right leader to guide DXL in this transition period and as we prepare for our next phase of growth.”