Maurice Sergio Reznik, a highly regarded executive in the intimate apparel industry who led Maidenform Brands and Delta Galil USA, died Tuesday at his home in Westport, Conn. He was 72.
The cause of death was glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, according to his son, Max.
Born Jan. 21, 1954, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Reznik came to the U.S. when he was 9 years old and grew up in Flushing, Queens. He held numerous jobs as a boy including working at a car wash, a deli and selling peanuts at Shea Stadium, according to Max.
“They had him working since he was a young kid. He had to work to help support his family. You name it, he did it,” he said.
After graduating from Queens College, Reznik took his first job as a salesman for Vanity Fair, the intimate apparel brand at VF Corp., and became an area vice president of sales for 13 years. He then became vice president of sales at Playtex, a division of Sara Lee, for two years.
He later became president of Warner’s intimate apparel division of The Warnaco Group in 1994, before departing in 1997 to join Maidenform as president, with responsibility for marketing, merchandising, design and sales for both branded and private label product. Maidenform emerged from bankruptcy in 1999 and Reznik led the team that took the company public in 2005. He was promoted to CEO in 2009 and then spearheaded Maidenform’s sale to Hanesbrands for $583 million in 2013. He was a member of the board of directors of Maidenform from July 2008 to April 2014.
Afterward, Reznik became CEO of the women’s intimate apparel division in the U.S. and Great Britain of Delta Galil Industries Ltd. and president of Delta Galil USA from 2015 to 2019. Reznik reported to Isaac Dabah, CEO of Tel Aviv-based Delta Galil Industries. The two had a business relationship since Reznik became Maidenform CEO in 2009, when the firm began sourcing much of its shapewear through Delta Galil’s facilities in Israel and adjacent Middle Eastern markets.
At the time of his hire in 2014, Dabah said, “The bra and panties and shapewear businesses are extremely technical and there are very few people anywhere who understand them as well as Maurice does. He’ll be focused on our women’s and kids’ intimates businesses and, besides his contributions in merchandising, sales and marketing, we expect he will be an excellent catalyst as we aim to grow through acquisitions, licenses and organic growth.”
Reached for comment Wednesday, Dabah told WWD, “Maurice was without question, the most knowledgeable person I’ve ever met when it came to shapewear – his expertise in the intimate apparel business was unmatched, and it showed in everything he touched. As president of our USA division, he was fully committed to our success and worked tirelessly to grow the business.
“Beyond the business, Maurice was a true family man. That side of him said a lot about who he was – someone who cared deeply, not just about the work but about the people in his life. Proud of his Argentine roots, he loved a good asado and never turned down a chance to go out and enjoy good food and good company,” said Dabah, Delta Galil Industries CEO.
Reznik continued to work up until his death. He and his wife Joanie – who met while they were both working for Vanity Fair – started an online women’s lingerie store, TheOnlyBra.com, which continues. A portion of every purchase supports women on their addiction recovery journey through the national nonprofit Shatterproof.
Asked what drew his father to the intimate apparel, Max Reznik said his father loved understanding product and being able to create something the consumer could love. In a Q and A with Maurice Reznik in WWD in 2012, he was asked why intimate apparel was such an emotional purchase for women.
“Lingerie is the closest thing against a woman’s body…Maidenform understands her shape, her assets and her insecurities. We support her from the inside out with solution-based technology that smooths, shapes, slims, lifts and improves her natural curves. Intimates often define a woman’s personal style and mark life moments such as adolescence, proms, weddings and other special occasions,” said Reznik.
Highly regarded for his judgment, leadership and endless curiosity, Reznik served on the boards of such public companies as Movado (from 2011 through 2020) and KapStone (2014-2018). He was also a cofounder of For the Love of Life Colon Cancer Foundation, which benefits colon cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering and was on the board of Queens College.
“Maurice Reznik was a highly respected leader whose impact on the fashion, apparel and intimate apparel industries was remarkable. During his service on the Movado Group board of directors he was an invaluable advisor, offering exceptional business insight and support. Beyond his professional achievements, Maurice was a trusted colleague and a good friend whose warmth, integrity, and generosity left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him,” said Efraim Grinberg, chairman and CEO of Movado Group.
An avid reader and fitness enthusiast, Reznik never missed a day of working out, and swam every morning. He was a lifelong traveler and dedicated golfer. Reznik was also a dedicated Yankees, Giants and Knicks fan. “He was very grateful to see [the Knicks championship] before he went,” said Max. He was also loyal to his beloved Argentina national soccer team.
His son described him as “the kindest, most passionate, most hardworking man, and an amazing husband, father and grandfather.”
“He got joy in everything he did. Everything he got to endure, he felt was the greatest thing ever. He always lived that way,” he said.
Reznik is survived by his wife, Joanie; three sons, Max, Ricky and Sammy, three daughters-in-law, Clare, River and Madeleine, respectively, and a grandson, Maurice “Reese” Reznik. He is also survived by his brother, Mario, and sister-in-law, Trudy.
Services will be held Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. at Temple Israel at 14 Coleytown Road in Westport, Conn. In lieu of gifts, donations can be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering in Reznik’s name in support of Dr. Ingo Mellinghoff’s research for brain cancer treatment.
