New Power at Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer Inc. (Seattle), the struggling retailer that has been without a ceo for nearly six months, is reportedly close to hiring Fabian Mansson, former ceo of H&M Hennes & Mauritz (Stockholm).

According to The New York Times, Eddie Bauer spokeswoman Debbie Koopman said: “He is our leading candidate.”

Mansson left H&M in 2000, after presiding over a successful U.S. invasion, beginning with the “cheap chic” apparel retailer's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York's Rockefeller Center. He has since been working as an independent consultant.

The retailer has been searching for a chief executive since January, when Richard Fersch abruptly retired from his position as president and ceo of Eddie Bauer, the retail division of The Spiegel Group (Downers Grove, Ill.).