J. Mendel president and COO to depart

Luxury fashion house J. Mendel has announced that Susan

Sokol will step down as president and chief operating officer of the company, and will transition her duties over the coming weeks.

Sokol has been president and COO since joining J. Mendel in 2008, and during her five year tenure she has helped to expand the fashion label’s ready-to-wear line, which now accounts for 60 percent of its wholesale business, and pushed the brand into new international markets.

"I am deeply grateful to Susan Sokol for her outstanding service, and wish her well in the next phase of her career," said Gilles Mendel, creative director and chief executive officer of J. Mendel. "Susan has been a trusted colleague, and leaves J. Mendel with a strong foundation for the future. We remain committed to our goals for long-term growth, including an increase in our retail footprint, entering new markets, and the introduction of new product categories."

The fashion house along with its parent company The Gores Group, has announced that they have initiated a search for Sokol’s successor and a new president will be named in the coming months.