New CEO at Donna Karan

Donna Karen is believed to have approved Mark Weber, the former chief executive officer of Phillips-Van Heusen, to become the next president and ceo of Donna Karan International. Weber would be replacing Jeffry Aronsson, who will be leaving the company to pursue other interests.

According to WWD, Karan has an approval clause for a new ceo in her contract with DKI parent LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. She is said to have met with and approved Weber.

The hire would complete an extensive executive search by LVMH, which has been conducted for more than a year, and become fodder for much industry speculation in recent months.

Bringing in Weber, 56, who is well-known in apparel circles, would be something of a surprise, since PVH’s board abruptly dismissed him as ceo after just eight months on the job. That came as a shock to the industry since Weber had spent 33 years at the firm. He had been the right-hand man to the company’s prior ceo Bruce Klatsky and was considered a natural successor to the executive, who stepped down in June 2005.

Weber is thought to be a slick, if not flamboyant executive, with a penchant for expensive designer suits and a salt-and-pepper bouffant that could be considered his personal signature.

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When Weber took over as ceo, Klatsky told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting of their first encounter: “All of a sudden, this guy with this crazy hair who was wearing a suit that’s worth more than my entire wardrobe shows up outside my office.”

During the final years of his tenure at PVH, Weber was instrumental in the purchase of Calvin Klein Inc. in 2003 and its successful integration into PVH. He was also said to have become increasingly involved in Calvin Klein’s marketing and advertising strategies.

At DKI, Weber would join a list of presidents and ceo’s who have entered and exited the doors at 550 Seventh Avenue. They have included Stephen L. Ruzow and John Idol, and since LVMH purchased the brand, Pino Brusone, Fred Wilson and Aronsson.