IN THE MIDDLE
KELLWOOD MELDS: Kellwood Co. is consolidating top management of two of its moderate-price sportswear divisions — AJ Brandon, which makes juniors and misses’, and California Ivy, which produces only misses’.
It’s part of an ongoing effort “to maximize talent and managerial expertise,” the company said.
Sherri A. Polivka, chief operating officer of California Ivy, has added the title of president. She has also been named president and chief operating officer at AJ Brandon.
Joseph M. Elles had been executive vice president and chief operating officer at AJ Brandon, but has now moved to special sales. Leo Chu had been president of Calfornia Ivy, but left last year.
Polivka, who joined California Ivy in December 1994 as vice president of operations after a nine-year stint with Kellwood’s EnChante division, was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Ivy last May. There are no plans to fill the executive vice president post, according to a Kellwood spokeswoman.
In a related shift, Monica A. Kostelnik, vice president of design and merchandising for California Ivy, has been promoted to executive vice president of design and merchandising, a new post. She has also been named to these posts at AJ Brandon.
Cynthia G. French recently left as executive vice president of California Ivy.
Kostelnik joined California Ivy in 1983 as director of design and merchandising and was promoted to vice president of design and merchandising for California Ivy in February 1995.