American Apparel Names New Member to Board of Directors, Opens France Location

On Monday, Los Angeles-based American Apparel's board of directors elected William Mauer to the company's board. In addition to his role as board member, Mauer will serve on American Apparel's audit committee and compensation committee, according to the company's Security and Exchange Commission filing.

Mauer, a senior partner at Montreal-based Lapin Mauer law firm, will take the board position of Adrian Kowalewski, former American Apparel chief financial officer and executive vice president of corporate strategy, who left the company in October. His appointment returns the company's board of directors to six members, five of whom are independent. American Apparel founder and chief executive officer Dov Charney is the sole dependent board member.

By joining American Apparel's audit committee, Mauer brings the company back into NYSE Amex LLC compliance, which requires member company audit committees have a minimum of three members. The company has not been in compliance with that regulation since July, when it replaced two board members. Mauer has served on audit committees in the past, fulfilling the role for Canada's Republic National Bank from 1983 to 2000

Mauer was elected as a Class B board member, and will not take on any executive roles within the company. Two recent executive vacancies within the past month, chief business development officer Marty Staff and acting president Tom Casey, have not yet been filled.

American Apparel also announced Monday the opening of a new store inside of Galeries Lafayette in Lille, France. The opening was part of the company's plan, announced in July, to expand its presence in Europe and to increase distribution of its products among higher-end retailers. It is the company's 12th location to open in France.

For more information, visit American Apparel's website.