Plans Still Unclear for New Mossimo Chief

How long will new Mossimo Inc. Chief Executive and turnaround specialist John Brincko be on the job at the troubled Irvine apparel designer?

That question was deftly avoided by everyone connected with the company--including Brincko--when his appointment was announced earlier this month.

“It’s still very much up in the air whether he’ll be there temporarily or permanently,” a company spokeswoman said. “There’s nothing set in stone at this point.”

She referred the question to Brincko, who responded: “I have no comment on that.” He also declined to say whether he had signed an employment contract.

At Barneys New York, his last stop before Mossimo, Brincko’s Los Angeles consulting firm was paid $65,000 a month plus a housing allowance for Brincko under a one-year contract.

The issue is an interesting one because Brincko’s task tends to be a short-term one, typically two years or less. And several of his high-profile rescues have resulted in the sale of the companies he was brought in to fix.

However, Chairman and founder Mossimo Giannulli has made it clear that the company--of which he owns 70%--isn’t for sale.

That’s fine by Brincko. “I think the company and the brand have enormous potential that has yet to be tapped,” he said.

Investors clearly are expecting good things. Since Brincko’s March 5 appointment, Mossimo shares are up 39%.

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Russ Stanton covers retail businesses and restaurants for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5609 and at russ.stanton@latimes.com