Catalyst Brands Names New Wholesale Chief as Retail Strategy Evolves

Catalyst Brands has named veteran fashion executive Michael Fernandez as chief wholesale and business development officer, tasking him with driving commercial growth across the Plano-based company’s portfolio of legacy retail brands.

Fernandez will oversee all wholesale operations—domestic and international—as well as business-to-business sales, licensing, and brand development efforts, the company said in an announcement. He reports to CEO Marc Rosen and joins the company’s senior leadership team.

Catalyst Brands was formed in January through what has been called a “mega-merger” of Plano-based JCPenney and New York’s SPARC Group. The combined company includes brands such as Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, JCPenney, and Nautica. Headquartered at JCPenney’s former North Texas headquarters, Catalyst said it operates 1,800 stores and employs more than 60,000 people across the U.S., with reported revenue of $9 billion.

Since its formation, Catalyst has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and cutting corporate staff, while working to reposition its brand portfolio and streamline operations.

In a statement, Catalyst CEO Rosen called Fernandez’s deep experience with specialty retail and licensing “exactly what Catalyst needs for its next phase,” citing his previous work with some of the company’s brands and his ability to build high-value retail relationships. Rosen said Fernandez will play a key role in aligning revenue teams around growth, execution, and customer value.

The company said Fernandez brings more than two decades of experience in the fashion and consumer goods industry. Most recently, he served as chief commercial officer and chief merchandising officer at The Levy Group, where he led merchandising and brand strategy for a range of performance and lifestyle brands, including Nautica. He previously held leadership roles at Perry Ellis International, where he worked on brands such as Original Penguin, Perry Ellis, Callaway, and Nike Swim.

Fernandez’s experience in merchandising, licensing, and wholesale partnerships positions him to align brand strategy with operational execution as the company focuses on scaling distribution and developing new revenue channels, the company said.

“Catalyst Brands is a powerhouse organization comprised of iconic retail brands and exceptional leaders,” Fernandez said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to building on our strong existing partnerships and developing new relationships that will only further that growth.”

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.