Men’s Wearhouse ousts founder, pitchman Zimmer

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Men’s Wearhouse doesn’t like the way its founder looks anymore.

The men’s clothier said Wednesday that it has fired the face of the company and its executive chairman, George Zimmer, 64, who appeared in many of its TV commercials with the slogan “You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.”

The company announced the move in a terse statement that gave no reason for the abrupt firing of Zimmer, who built Men’s Wearhouse Inc. from one small Texas store using a cigar box as a cash register to one of North America’s largest men’s clothing sellers with 1,143 locations.

The firing appears to end the career of one of TV’s most recognizable pitchmen. Zimmer’s slogan became almost a cultural touchstone, and his natty but down-to-earth charm made dressing sharply feel more accessible to men.

Zimmer said in a statement that over the past several months he and the company’s board disagreed about the company’s direction.

The bad blood, however, didn’t spook investors, who drove Men’s Wearhouse’s stock down just 43 cents to $37.04.