Jeri-Jo Taps Andrew Cohen for Junior Fashions

Andrew Cohen has been named president of Jeri-Jo Knitwear Inc., a division of New York-based Jones Apparel Group’s subsidiary McNaughton Apparel Group, according to Cohen.

Prior to joining Jeri-Jo, Cohen was president and CEO of Vernon, Calif.-based contemporary women’s label Laundry by Shelli Segal, a division of New York-based Liz Claiborne Inc. He held the position from January 2000 until June 2001, when he resigned from his post. Before that, Cohen was president and CEO of Vernon, Calif.-based sportswear manufacturer Chorus Line. He left Chorus Line prior to the company’s merger with Carole Little. The merged companies, operating as CL Fashion, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2000.

Cohen, who is originally from the East Coast, will work out of the company’s New York office and report to Peter Boneparth, CEO of McNaughton Apparel Group.

“I spent 10 very good years in California, in Los Angeles and San Francisco,” he said, “and I enjoyed my stay at Laundry for the year and a half I was there, but I felt that this was a much more exciting opportunity.”

Cohen said he left Laundry because after working in both contemporary and junior markets he felt there was more growth in the latter market.

“The junior area is still very much in the news,” Cohen explained. “Junior clothing is still very active and there is still a lot of growth in it. I don’t think the same can be said about contemporary, particularly when you’re at the high end of the pricing structure. I’ve always thought Jeri-Jo is one of the most preeminent junior knit-top and sweater companies,” he said. “My goal is to continue to have it flourish the way it has.”J

eri-Jo clothing is sold at Coles, J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Robinson’s May. —Claudia Figueroa