Men's Wearhouse Fires Founder & Spokesman George Zimmer

Apparently the company that George Zimmer founded in 1973, Men's Wearhouse, didn't like the way he looked, or what he had to say, based on the unceremonious firing of the former Executive Chairman. The company released a statement today saying that the board had fired Zimmer, but did not give a reason for the dismissal. Zimmer said in his own statement today that the board had "inappropriately...silenced his concerns" about where the company was headed. Zimmer, 64 and a former substitute school teacher, has been giving his famous guarantee, "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it" in his recognizable baritone and gravely voice since first appearing in commercials for the company in 1985. His seemingly ubiquitous bearded face has been the public image of the company, which currently has over 1,200 stores across the country, for so long that it's difficult to imagine him no longer associated with it. In fact, the Men's Wearhouse About section of its website has so much information about Zimmer that they will need to either reconsider their strategy or hope no one notices his firing. However, Zimmer will not be hurting in his silky pockets as he was "the company's single-largest individual shareholder as of March 31" at 3.5 percent, is owed $250,000 a year for the next four years thanks to a licensing deal, and will be receiving "termination pay and benefits" worth an estimated $2.7 million; not to mention that he earned almost $2 million last year. Zimmer can certainly guarantee his own future comfort, but time will tell if the suit chain can. sources: http://reut.rs/16JGyu6 http://usat.ly/16gnYc4 http://bloom.bg/14iCUoZ