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Supporting Brooklyn College in its mission to provide affordable access to excellent higher education

Zachary Solomon ’57

  • Former Chair, Board of Trustees of BCF (1997-2001)

Zachary Solomon worked as a buyer and merchandise manager at Abraham & Straus after receiving a B.A. in Economics from Brooklyn College in 1957. For the next 50 years this native of Belle Harbor, Queens enjoyed a distinguished career in the retail industry.

In 1964, Mr. Solomon moved to Los Angeles to become a Senior Vice President with May Company. He later served as Executive Vice President and then became President of The Emporium, the venerable San Francisco department store. In 1983 he returned to New York and was named President and CEO of Perry Ellis, a manufacturer of casual but elegant sportswear. In 1987, he became president of Ellen Tracy Co, a women’s clothing manufacturer, and in 1991 he took over as president and chief executive officer of Associated Merchandising Corporation, that later became a subsidiary of Target Corporation that helps to develop and import garments and other goods for the Target Department Stores. In the years since, Mr. Solomon has continued in the retail trade, serving as CEO of Adrienne Vittadini, President of Finity Apparel Group, CEO of Baby Togs and Paul LaFontaine.

Mr. Solomon was elected to the Brooklyn College Foundation Board of Trustees in 1984; he served as Chairman from 1997-2001. In 2007 Mr. Solomon was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award.