Gildan CEO pushed board to back risky deals, director says

Gildan Activewear Inc. president and CEO Glenn Chamandy poses for a photograph following the apparel manufacturer's annual meeting Thursday, February 5, 2015 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL: The former chief executive officer of Gildan Activewear Inc pushed the board to approve large acquisitions before he was shown the door, according to a director of the clothing manufacturer.

The board of Gildan, which owns the American Apparel clothing brand, has been at the centre of a power struggle since announcing last Monday that it was replacing long-time CEO Glenn Chamandy with a former Fruit of the Loom executive, Vincent Tyra.