Latest news with #Centric
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Centric Brands names president of kids' division
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Centric Brands on Monday named Rob Smith its new president of the kids' division, according to a news release. Smith is the founder and CEO of The Phluid Project, an organization grounded in fashion, education and community. As its sole owner, he retains the CEO title. He previously held senior positions with Macy's and Victoria's Secret. In his role with Centric Brands, Smith will focus on strategic growth and consumer engagement. Centric Brands portfolio includes licenses for Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica and Under Armour. Dive Insight: While taking over as president of Centric Brand's Kids, Smith will work alongside Steve Pinkow, who has served as group president of the kids division for 17 years. Pinkow will retain that role through the end of the year when he becomes a consultant to the company. Pinkow's advisory role will last through 2026, per the release. "As a new president, I have the great fortune to learn from Steve until the end of the year as he moves onto retirement,' Smith told Retail Dive in an email. 'He's not only incredibly seasoned here at Centric, but he has a phenomenal reputation [and] legacy in the retail industry.' Centric Brands has been working to rebuild itself after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May of 2020. Since exiting bankruptcy later that year, the brand collective has been proactive in staffing up its leadership. Centric Brands currently holds licenses for over 100 brands across men's, women's and kids categories. A partnership in May with Authentic Brands Group made Centric the operating partner for Dockers in the U.S. and Canada. Recommended Reading Gap Inc. to eliminate 500 corporate jobs Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Centric Brands Appoints Rob Smith President of Kid's Division
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Centric Brands, a leading lifestyle brand collective and marketplace leader in kids' apparel, today announced the appointment of Rob Smith as President of the Kids division. Based in New York, Rob will report directly to CEO, Jason Rabin, and join the company's Executive Leadership Team. In his new role, Rob will lead the Kids division across all global brands and categories, working in close collaboration with teams across the organization to drive strategic growth, deepen consumer engagement, and elevate Centric Brands' leadership in the kids' marketplace through continued innovation and operational excellence. Smith joins Centric effective immediately and will work in tandem with Steve Pinkow who has served as the Group President of the Kids division for 17 years. Pinkow will become a consultant to the business at the end of the year through 2026. 'Rob is a dynamic and purpose-driven leader with a strong track record of building brands, scaling businesses, and inspiring teams,' said Jason Rabin, Chief Executive Officer, Centric Brands. 'His deep industry expertise and forward-thinking approach will be invaluable as we advance our kids' platform globally. I am extremely thankful to Steve for his friendship, dedication and the business he built over the past 17 years. He has left an indelible mark on the organization.' Rob brings over 35 years of leadership experience in fashion, apparel, denim, and activewear across men's, women's, and kids' categories. Most recently, he served as CEO and Founder of The Phluid Project, a purpose-led brand at the intersection of fashion, community, and education, grounded in the values of Gen Z and Millennial consumers. Under his leadership, Phluid's products have expanded to over 10,000 retail locations across North America. Previously, Rob held a seat on the Board of Directors at Steve Madden and served as Chief Product Officer at Haddad Brands. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Macy's and Victoria's Secret, where he managed multi-billion-dollar businesses and earned recognition for his innovative and transformational leadership. 'I'm honored to join Centric Brands and lead the Kids division at such an exciting time for the business,' said Rob Smith. 'Throughout my career, I've been passionate about building brands that reflect the needs and values of today's consumers. I look forward to working with the talented teams at Centric to continue driving innovation, expanding our global reach, and creating meaningful connections with families around the world.' About Centric Brands LLC. Centric Brands LLC is a global leading lifestyle brand collective that has unparalleled expertise in product design, development and sourcing, retail and digital commerce, marketing, and brand building. Centric designs, sources, markets, and sells high-quality products in the kids, men's and women's apparel, accessories, beauty, and entertainment categories. The Company's portfolio includes licenses for more than 100 iconic brands, including Calvin Klein®, Tommy Hilfiger®, Nautica®, and Under Armour® in the kid's category; Buffalo®, Dockers®, Hervé Léger®, IZOD®, Joe's Jeans®, and John Elliot® in the men's and women's apparel category; All Saints®, Coach®, Frye®, Hunter®, Kate Spade®, Michael Kors®, and Vince® in the accessories category; and in the Sports & Entertainment category, Disney®, Game 7®, Marvel®, Messi®, Nickelodeon®, and Warner Brothers® among many others. The Company also owns and operates Avirex®, Fiorelli®, Hudson®, Robert Graham®, and Taste Beauty® and operates joint venture brands, Favorite Daughter, Jennifer Fisher, and Preston Lane. The Company's products are sold through leading mass-market retailers, specialty and department stores, and online. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with U.S. offices in Los Angeles and Greensboro, and international offices in Asia, Europe, Montreal, and Toronto. Centric Brands social impact efforts are centered around our commitment to serve and uplift the communities where we live and do business. Through our collective volunteerism and contributions, we are dedicated to making a caring and lasting impact on the world around us. For more information about Centric Brands, please visit
Finextra
17-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Centric takes majority stake in Dutch fintech Twelve
Twelve, the leading Dutch FinTech company specialized in point-of-sale (PoS) and order management in the foodservice and hospitality sector, today announced its acquisition by Centric, a prominent IT software and services provider. 0 This strategic move marks a significant milestone for both organizations, combining deep market expertise and a shared vision for the future of retail technology. Centric, together with investment vehicle Spacetime, will support founder and newly appointed CEO Willem van Kralingen in strengthening Twelve's service offering and accelerating its European growth strategy. Leader in PoS for the foodservice and hospitality sector Initially focused on amateur sports clubs, Twelve developed a cashless payment and order management solution easily operated by volunteers on weekends. Underpinned by its user-friendliness, speed and reliability, Twelve successfully expanded beyond sports clubs and now serves large stadiums like the Johan Cruijff Arena, major events such as SAIL Amsterdam and leading caterers like Sodexo. Together with its focus on smaller quick service restaurants, Twelve has become the go-to provider of point-of-sale and order management software for the foodservice and hospitality sector in the Netherlands. Accelerating European expansion Currently, Twelve is processing more than 700 million transactions a year in a wide range of establishments. 'We have grown into the market leader in the Netherlands', says Willem van Kralingen, CEO at Twelve. 'Our 15 years of experience together with the added expertise and network of our new partners make us uniquely positioned to expand across Europe starting with Germany, France, Italy and the UK. We already service major stadiums in two of those countries, such as Stade de France and San Siro.' Investment for strategic growth For Centric, the acquisition of Twelve enhances its portfolio of retail software solutions. While Centric has traditionally held a strong position with its software solutions in the food, non-food, and logistics sectors, Twelve adds an innovative dimension to retail technology with its PoS solutions tailored to the foodservice and hospitality sector. 'This investment also reinforces our strategic direction,' says Hans van Waaijenburg, CEO of Centric, 'We focus on markets where our in-depth industry knowledge and advanced IT capabilities can truly make a difference for our clients. We actively invest in promising technology companies that enhance our expertise and strengthen our position in these markets. By joining forces with Twelve, we not only accelerate their growth but also solidify our role as a leading IT player in the retail market.' Twelve will continue to operate under its own brand and organizational structure, maintaining its entrepreneurial spirit and strategic autonomy, while engaging with the broader Centric group on an arm's length basis to benefit from its scale and support.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brenntag Selects Centric PLM to Boost Global Growth and Harmonize Product Data
German chemical and ingredients distributor partners with Centric Software to ensure compliance and streamline ingredients & recipe management CAMPBELL, Calif., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Centric Software® is pleased to announce that Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical and ingredients distribution, has selected Centric PLMTM to streamline new product development and harmonize product data for its food and nutrition division. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, formulate, develop, procure, manufacture and sell consumer goods products in food & beverage, grocery, food service and multi-category retail to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals. Brenntag Specialties sought a single source of truth for master data management in its Food & Nutrition business to ensure regulatory compliance across multiple regions. With a strong network of dedicated Innovation and Application centers working daily on satisfying customer requests, Brenntag identified an opportunity to streamline R&D processes. Nutrient calculation and labeling declaration were vital functions to address. For each country where Brenntag operates, there are specific regulatory rules governing permitted ingredients and labeling. Formulation, recipe management, compliance checks, label and artwork management all operate together. They require a streamlined process and reliable, real-time data. "We need a holistic PLM solution to harmonize data and processes across our Food & Nutrition Division in order to ensure that we are agile in developing new products and solutions for our customers, while always guaranteeing the quality and compliance standards our company is renowned for", says Stephanie Pretesacque, Director Innovation and Application at Brenntag. With Brenntag's vast global network of employees, customers and suppliers, a robust global and connected PLM solution is necessary. The ability to operate in multiple languages is essential, and data needs to be updated and available in real-time. After a thorough analysis of a number of PLM solutions, Brenntag selected Centric. One of Centric PLM's key differentiators is its strong integration capabilities with other systems and partners, particularly with FoodChain ID, a popular compliance database and partner of Centric Software. Brenntag also chose Centric for its strong customer references in the food & beverage sector, track record of successful implementations delivering ROI and high user adoption rates. "Centric PLM will empower teams to manage projects more efficiently with real time visibility and a global view of departments, projects and roles," says Maria Sarandeva, Commercial Excellence Director. "Regulatory compliance and sustainability are at the core of Brenntag's brand promise. With PLM, all product information will be stored in one location and we will easily track product development." "We are thrilled that Brenntag has selected Centric PLM as the foundation solution to ensure regulatory, compliance and sustainability across their vast global business network," says Fabrice Canonge, President of Centric Software. "We look forward to a long-term partnership with this pioneering brand committed to innovation and sustainability." [Learn more about Centric Software __title__ Learn more about Centric Software] [Request a demo __title__ Request a demo] Brenntag ( Brenntag is the global market leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution. The company holds a central role in connecting customers and suppliers of the chemical industry. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, Brenntag has more than 18,100 employees worldwide and operates a network of about 600 sites in 70 countries. In 2024, Brenntag generated sales of 16.2 billion EUR. The two global divisions, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties, provide a diversified and broad portfolio of industrial and specialty chemicals and ingredients as well as tailor-made application, marketing and supply chain solutions, technical and formulation support, comprehensive regulatory know-how, and digital solutions for a wide range of industries. Brenntag pursues an ambitious sustainability agenda and is committed to sustainable solutions in its own sector and the industries served. Brenntag shares have been listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2010, in the DAX since September 2021. In addition, the Brenntag SE shares are listed in the DAX 30 ESG and DAX ESG Target. Media Contact Celia Newhouse, Centric Software, +14385015498, cnewhouse@ Twitter View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Centric Software Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centric Consulting Offers Seamless Transition as Microsoft Moves to Eliminate Mid-Market Enterprise Agreements
DAYTON, Ohio, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Microsoft evolves its licensing strategy to better serve enterprise and mid-market segments, thousands of organizations with fewer than 2,400 users will transition from Enterprise Agreements (EA) to new licensing models. Centric Consulting, a Microsoft Direct Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), announced today that it is providing specialized services designed to guide businesses through this transition. Microsoft has restructured its licensing agreements, limiting EA renewals, particularly for those with user/device counts between 500 to 2, 400. This segment is known as Level A. These companies are encouraged to evaluate their current user counts and expiration dates and develop a strategy for licensing and support before their agreements expire. When their agreements are up for renewal, they must engage with a Microsoft CSP like Centric or purchase directly from Microsoft to renew their licensing. "We're seeing many leaders of mid-sized companies working to understand how the licensing changes will affect their company. The transition presents an opportunity for them to reassess and optimize, but if they're unprepared, they risk cost increases and service gaps," said Maurice Faison, Microsoft Partnership Director at Centric Consulting. "As a Direct CSP, we're uniquely positioned to offer our clients not just licensing solutions, but comprehensive strategic guidance and managed services that maximize their Microsoft investment." To help companies understand the nuances of Microsoft licensing, Centric developed a Microsoft Licensing Comparison Guide. This self-assessment provides personalized recommendations and conversation starters for choosing the right licensing support model. While Microsoft's recent policy change has created urgency for many organizations, Centric's deep expertise in managing complex licensing requirements has consistently helped clients optimize costs and maintain compliance throughout the evolving technological landscape. "Over the past decade, we've assisted numerous clients with their licensing needs from initial cloud service adoption to optimization and broader technology implementations," added Faison. "Our efforts have consistently resulted in cost savings while ensuring that technology fully supports the business objectives." Unlike standard resellers, Centric offers a comprehensive approach that includes complimentary licensing assessments to identify potential cost-saving opportunities, frictionless EA-to-CSP transition services, and ongoing strategic and IT support from certified Microsoft specialists. The firm's robust Microsoft Consulting Services encompass Microsoft's complete cloud ecosystem—Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Azure, Teams, Power Platform, Copilot, and Defender—while also supporting critical on-premises infrastructure, including Windows Server and SQL Server deployments. For more information about Centric Consulting's Microsoft licensing solutions or to schedule an initial discussion, visit Media Contact: Lindsay Dawson, Centric Consulting, 888.781.7567, About Centric ConsultingCentric Consulting is the right partner — committed to delivering tailored solutions and unmatched experiences. For 26 years, the international management consulting firm has combined the benefits of deep experience, flexibility and cost efficiency to solve its clients' toughest problems. Its teams include strategic advisors and the best talent from across the United States and India with expertise in areas like artificial intelligence, cyber risk and compliance, people and change, business applications and more. The firm builds teams that can scale up or down quickly based on client needs, industry and desired outcomes. Headquartered in Ohio, with 1,300 employees and 14 locations, Centric has been honored with over 100 awards for its commitment to employees, clients and communities. It's also been recognized 10 times by Forbes as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms. Visit to learn more. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CENTRIC CONSULTING, LLC Sign in to access your portfolio
