Retail Exec Luis Padilla Named ENK President

Veteran retailer Luis Padilla has been named president of New York–based trade-show producer ENK International.

Padilla said he will help build ENK’s infrastructure to fuel the company’s next stage of growth. ENK produces a number of apparel and accessories shows, including Coterie, Intermezzo Accessorie Collections Circuit and Blue, all in New York, and Brighte Companies in Los Angeles, which will be returning to Las Vegas Aug. 26–28 after a two-year hiatus.

Padilla has held senior positions with a number of leading retail chains. He most recently was president of merchandising for Sears Roebuck & Co. and before that was an executive vice president of merchandising for Marshall Field’s, where he worked for 22 years.

He will report to Elyse Kroll, ENK’s chairman and chief creative officer.

“It’s great to be in a smaller, more entrepreneurial company with unlimited potential,” Padilla said in a statement. “As a buyer, I always had great respect for the way Elyse was really a show manager, rather than just a seller of real estate. She built this business intuitively, and she’s done a remarkable job.”

Said Kroll, “Luis brings a lot to the table. His background fascinates me because he was the ultimate end user of ENK events. So far, I am truly enjoying having him with me to plan the future.”—Robert McAllister