Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal Inc. has hired back its former president as the retailer’s new chief executive.
Edmond Thomas served as Wet Seal’s president and chief operating officer from 1992 to 2000.
Thomas currently is president and co-chief executive of Anaheim-based Tilly’s Inc., which runs some 70 stores selling surf-inspired clothes.
He’s set to join Wet Seal in early October.
In May, current Chief Executive Joel Waller, who’s spent the past two and a half years reworking the company, said he didn’t plan to seek a renewal of his contract.
Waller is seen as a turnaround guy. Wet Seal now needs an executive to drive growth, including opening stores, according to analysts.
Thomas helped open stores and build up Wet Seal during his first stint at the company.
“It was a difficult decision to leave Tilly’s,” he said. But “I am thrilled to come back to a company I helped to build for so many years.”
