Deckop Resigns From Wet Seal
Joseph Deckop, who helmed troubled juniors retailer The Wet Seal Inc. after former Chief Executive Officer Peter D. Whitford left the company in November 2004, resigned from his position as executive vice president on March 15 to “pursue other interests,” according to a statement from the Foothill Ranch, Calif.–based company. Wet Seal representatives did not reply to requests for further comment.
Deckop joined the company in 2003 as vice president of central planning and allocation. He was the acting chief executive officer from November 2004 to January 2005. Joel N. Waller, chairman of Canada-based Wilsons Leather took office as the Wet Seal chief in February.
Since then, Wet Seal’s fortunes have gone from bad to mixed. The company had a positive comparative-store sales growth of 16.4 percent in February, but the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also announced it is investigating the retailer’s earnings reports from Aug. 5 to 19, 2004.
