GAIL ONORATO NAMED JONES UNIT PRESIDENT
NEW YORK — Gail Onorato has been named president of design and merchandising of specialty markets for Jones Apparel Group.
In her new position, Onorato will continue to be responsible for the Jones New York Country and Rena Rowan divisions, and she will now take on the additional oversight of the growing Jones Specialty Markets division — classified as those distributions channels outside of better department stores — which include Nine and Company and Jones Wear.
A moderate lifestyle brand, Nine and Company will launch for fall and be exclusively distributed through Kohl’s and Mervyn’s. A spokeswoman said Jones is in discussions with other department store chains to develop additional exclusive lines.
In this newly created position, Onorato reports to Jackwyn Nemerov, president of Jones Apparel Group. Onorato has held the position of executive vice president of Jones New York Country since she joined the company in 1995.
Prior to joining Jones, Onarato was vice president and general merchandise manager of Carroll Reed stores and catalog. She also was vice president and design director of JG Hook.