New Top Gun at Tommy's

Struggling apparel design house Tommy Hilfiger Corp. (Kowloon, Hong Kong) has tapped David Dyer, the former ceo of Lands' End (Dodgeville, Wis.), as its new president and ceo.

Dyer replaces Joel Horowitz, who will remain as chairman. The designer clothing company said last October that it would seek a new ceo to succeed Horowitz, who had held that post since 1994.

As president and ceo of Lands' End from 1998 through 2002, Dyer oversaw the catalog company's sale to Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 2002. In addition to his titles at Lands' End, Dyer was also executive vp and general manager of Sears' customer-direct and Great Indoors home businesses.

Dyer began his career as head of marketing at Miami-based Burdines, a unit of Federated Department Stores Inc. (Cincinnati). His career also includes stints as president and coo of the Home Shopping Network and as acting president of J. Crew Catalog.

Hilfiger is experiencing its fourth year of declining profit. Retail analysts attribute the company's difficulties to growing competition, dependence on the troubled department-store business and an inability to diversify its own retail distribution.