The new American Apparel CEO is a woman. Thank God.

American Apparel (aka the place where we buy tons of $$$ scrunchies and cotton tanks) has finally officially kicked out their extremely controversial CEO Dov Charney — the businessman who started the company when he was just 20 years old. Charney has been embroiled in controversy over several sexual harassment suits filed by former employees — the disgust over the company’s sketchy ads is usually connected with Charney too.

Last June, Charney was ousted from the Board of Directors and suspended as CEO, but it took until now for the company to announce his replacement and once and for all cut ties with their founder. (The official reason given for his being let go was violation of his employment contract . . . the unofficial reason is, of course, those sexual misconduct allegations.)

In a pleasant turn of events, the executive who will take the reins from Charney is a woman: Paula Schneider. It’s about time the company get a woman in there considering the fact that the first female board member only joined this August. For serious.

In a press release from the company, Schneider was described as, “an experienced executive with an extensive track record in design, merchandising, sales, manufacturing, finance, licensing, and human resources.”

So who is Schneider? Well, she’s a graduate of California State University in Chico with a bunch of highly-impressive titles under her belt. Before her gig at American Apparel, Schneider was President of Sales for nine years at BCBG Max Azria. She also was President of the clothing brand Laundry by Shelli Segal, a senior advisor at a private equity group, and, most recently, the founder of her own consulting company. Not too shabby.

“”American Apparel has a unique and incredible story, and it’s exciting to become part of such an iconic brand,” Schneider said in a statement. “My goal is to make American Apparel a better company, while staying true to its core values of quality and creativity and preserving its sweatshop-free, Made in USA manufacturing philosophy.”

For a company whose former CEO has a stained history of sexual assault allegations, hiring a woman is also obviously an image move. But getting Charney out of there once and for all? Well that sounds pretty good. And with such an awesome sounding lady taking the reigns? Even better.

Schneider officially starts her new gig on January 5.

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