He brings to Delta Apparel an established record of strategic leadership and innovation across a variety of industries and organisations ranging from entrepreneurial start-up companies to some of the country’s largest universities.

Hardgrave’s experience includes leading a company that developed the first software commercially available for the transportation brokerage industry, founding the Information Technology Research Institute and RFID Lab at the University of Arkansas’ Sam M Walton College of Business, and serving in senior leadership positions for Auburn University, including head of its Harbert College of Business and Provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, where he oversaw a variety of successful financial and other growth initiatives and led the development of a multi-year strategic plan for the entire university organisation, the company said in a press release.

Hardgrave currently serves as the 13^th president of the University of Memphis and continues his work with the RFID Lab he founded as well as Fortune 100 companies and others on strategies to leverage the commercial use of RFID and related technologies. He also serves on the executive leadership committee for GS1 US, a global standard-setting organisation for digital data transfer in supply chains. In recognition of Hardgrave’s impact on the retail industry, he received the Ted Williams Award from AIM Global and the special achievement award from RFID Journal.

“We are excited to welcome Dr Hardgrave to our board of directors. His extensive business and leadership experience will bring a valuable perspective to our board and should greatly benefit our shareholders. We look forward to adding his subject matter expertise in retail and supply chain strategies to our company as we continue to build out our retail, distribution and digital fulfillment footprints and look for ways to increase efficiencies across our vertical platform,” Robert W Humphreys, Delta Apparel’s chairman and chief executive officer, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)