<p>New York, NY (4/23/10) -- CBX, the strategic branding and retail design consultancy based in New York, today announced that Vice President Dimitri Vermès has been named to VMSD magazine's editorial advisory board, an elite group of retail design industry leaders.
Vermès recently joined CBX as vice president of its Retail Division. Prior to that, he served as vice president with RYA Design Consultancy, where he led new business development efforts, marketing and communications for both the New York and Dallas offices. Before joining RYA, Vermès spent nearly nine years at GRID 2 Int'l, beginning as vice president of marketing and later promoted to partner. At GRID 2, he was responsible for new business and strategic branding efforts on an international level, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Over the course of his career, Vermès has worked with such clients as JP Morgan Chase, Commerce Bank, Cartier, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, L'Oréal, Hess, Giant Food, UPS, Procter & Gamble, Borders Books, Arby's and Duane Reade.

Based on his extensive retail design experience, Vermès was tapped to actively assist VMSD in its efforts to serve the industry. By participating in surveys and informal conversations with the magazine's editors, VMSD's advisory board helps chart the magazine's overall direction and content by identifying developing trends in the areas of architecture, design, planning, fixturing, lighting, and materials. The magazine also reports on the latest in visual merchandising, customer service and amenities as well as graphics, packaging and branding.

Over the next year, Vermès will also participate in published interviews for print and online, and participate in the magazine's annual International Retail Design Conference and several other editorial board meetings. "I'm pleased to help VMSD shape its editorial content to reflect the changing and challenging retail industry," said Vermès, who has been quoted in such publications as The New York Times, Kiplinger's, Furniture Today, Rapaport Diamond Report, as well as VMSD.

Kristin D. Godsey, VMSD's associate publisher and executive editor, added: "Over the years, this group has become an invaluable part of VMSD's strategic planning. The board members themselves benefit from increased visibility as influential retail leaders, while forging solid, lasting relationships with their peers.</p>