Allan Mayer

Overview

Allan Mayer became a director of American Apparel upon consummation of the Acquisition on December 12, 2007. Since October 2006, he has been a principal partner, member of the management committee, and head of the Strategic Communications Division of 42West LLC, a leading public relations firm. Previously, from 1997 until October 2006, Mr. Mayer was managing director and head of the entertainment practice at the nationally-known crisis communications firm Sitrick and Company. Mr. Mayer began his professional life as a journalist, working as a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal; a writer, foreign correspondent and senior editor for Newsweek, and the founding editor (and later publisher) of Buzz magazine. He also served as editorial director of Arbor House Publishing Co. and senior editor of Simon & Schuster. Mr. Mayer has authored two books - Madam Prime Minister: Margaret Thatcher and Her Rise to Power (Newsweek Books, 1980) and Gaston's War (Presidio Press, 1987) - and is co-author, with Michael S. Sitrick, of Spin: How To Turn The Power of the Press to Your Advantage (Regnery, 1998). In addition, he has written for a wide variety of national publications, ranging from The New York Times Magazine to Vogue. Mr. Mayer is a recipient of numerous professional honors, including the National Magazine Award, the Overseas Press Club Citation of Excellence, and six William Allen White Awards. Mr. Mayer serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent and lectures regularly on crisis management and communications at UCLA's Anderson School of Business and USC's Annenberg School of Communication. Mr. Mayer received his B.A. from Cornell University.