Men’s Wearhouse escalates battle with founder Zimmer

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Men’s Wearhouse escalated a public battle with its founder and former pitchman George Zimmer on Tuesday, trying to explain why it fired the man who still represents the clothier in many shoppers’ minds.

The company said in a statement that its board parted ways with Zimmer because he had difficulty “accepting the fact that Men’s Wearhouse is a public company with an independent board of directors and that he has not been the chief executive officer for two years.” One bone of contention was that he wanted to sell the company to an investment firm.

On paper, Zimmer’s ability to take back control of the company he founded seems limited. But to his fans, he’s already winning. Customers are turning to the company’s Facebook and other social-media outlets to express their outrage. Many were threatening to boycott the chain.

Ultimately, the shoppers themselves could determine what happens next. Zimmer, 64, who founded the company in 1973, has been one of advertising’s most recognizable pitchmen, known for his slogan: “You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.”

“I am kind of sad,” said Gerard McLean, 51, a Web developer from Dayton. “George Zimmer is a trusted face and voice. Men need to hear that their fashion choices are OK.”

McLean said he’ll continue to shop there. But he fears the stores’ no-nonsense fashion choices may fade and drive him elsewhere. “My concern is that [Men’s Wearhouse] will start listening to advice dispensed by the GQ crowd.”

Since Men’s Wearhouse’s terse announcement last Wednesday of Zimmer’s firing as executive chairman, it had remained tight-lipped about the reasons.

But on Tuesday, Men’s Wearhouse said Zimmer, who owns just 31/2 percent of the company’s stock, pushed for “significant changes that would enable him to regain control.” The chain said Zimmer had refused to support its CEO Doug Ewert and other senior managers unless they gave in to his demands.

The retailer also said Zimmer expected veto power over certain corporate decisions, such as executive compensation, even though it has an independent board committee that sets such policies.

Analysts had speculated that the rift was caused by a power struggle. Last week, Zimmer said in a written statement that over the past several months, he and the board have disagreed about the direction of Men’s Wearhouse. At the time, Zimmer said that the board chose to silence his concerns. On Monday, Zimmer sent a letter to the company saying he was quitting the board.

In addition, Men’s Wearhouse said Zimmer also began arguing for a sale of the business to an investment group, reversing course on his previous position.

Men’s Wearhouse said its board unanimously agrees that now is not the time to sell the company. The chain said a deal to go private could load the company down with debt.

Zimmer declined to comment for this story.

Branding experts said the company’s moves threaten to alienate its fans, who could vote with their dollars. It also could create poor morale among workers.

David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Visions LLC, a branding company, said that the board should have come clean with the story last week instead of coming out with it days later. It smacks of bad taste, he said.

“[George Zimmer] has won the PR war already. They look cold and heartless,” he added.

Under Zimmer’s stewardship, Men’s Wearhouse Inc. grew 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.