C&C Co-Founder Exits Company

Cheyann Benedict, who co-founded the widely popular Los Angeles T-shirt company C&C California, has left the company a little more than one year after it was purchased by Liz Claiborne Inc.

Benedict and co-founder Claire Stansfield shared the title of co-presidents of the company, founded in 2003. Stansfield recently stepped down as co-president to pursue a more creative role with the firm.

On June 21, Liz Claiborne named Liz Munoz to be the new president of C&C California, which the New York firm purchased in early 2005 for an initial payment of $28 million.

“Cheyann left to pursue other interests,” Stansfield said. “And I am very much involved in the public relations, marketing and design concepts. But I wanted to step down as president to spend more time with my baby, Lucky, who just had his first birthday, and not be involved so much in the day-today issues such as payroll and expense accounts.”

Benedict, who is traveling, was unavailable for comment.

Munoz will oversee all aspects of C&C California’s business. She reports to Susan Davidson, Liz Claiborne’s group president.

In addition to her role at C&C California, Munoz continues her job as senior vice president, merchandising and design, at Lucky Brand Jeans, the Vernon, Calif., company that was acquired by Liz Claiborne in 1999.

Stansfield said C&C California’s distribution has been merged with other Liz Claiborne distribution operations in the region. C&C California, located on San Fernando Road, also will be moving its offices to a new, undetermined location in the near future. —Deborah Belgum