Former EMI Chief Heads North

James G. Fifield, former chief of British music giant EMI, reemerged Tuesday as president and CEO of North Face Inc., a San Leandro, Calif.-based company that designs and distributes outdoor gear. Fifield, who is credited with helping transform EMI into the third-largest music conglomerate in the world over the last decade, abruptly quit his post last month following a corporate power struggle and walked away with a whopping $21-million exit package. Fifield, an avid skier and former General Mills executive, has been a member of North Face’s board of directors for the last two years and this week purchased about $14 million of newly issued North Face common stock.