ESTHER CHEN EXITS POSTS AT EMANUEL
NEW YORK — In another shakeup at bridge firm Emanuel/ Emanuel Ungaro, Esther Chen has resigned as senior vice president and design director.
Her last day is June 17. No successor has been named.
“It’s a personal decision,” Chen said Friday. “GFT has been supportive of me.”
Chen’s last collection will be resort ’98, which retailers will begin previewing next week. Chen said she notified the company of her decision to leave in March. She said she plans to take some time before assuming another design post.
Chen oversaw design for the firm’s three lines — Emanuel/Emanuel Ungaro, Emanuel/Emanuel Ungaro Liberte and Emanuel Collection Dresses.
The company’s two most senior executives were ousted less than a month ago, which was when GFT USA said Maura de Visscher, chief executive officer, and Kim Perrone, president and chief operating officer, had ceased to serve in such capacities at its $160 million bridge division.
GFT hired a search firm to find a new president and ceo, but no successor has been named. In the interim, GFT USA president Ronald Frasch is assuming management responsibility. Frasch could not be reached for comment Friday.
At Emanuel, Chen succeeded longtime designers Ken Kaufman and Isaac Franco, both of whom defected to Anne Klein in 1996.