St. John departure.

Bruce Fetter, who played a leading role at Irvine-based St. John Knits International Inc. in the past three years, is leaving the women's clothier.

The move comes after a series of recent management changes that saw Fetter go from co-chief executive to chief operating officer reporting to a new vice president of operations.

St. John has gone through several changes, with Chief Executive Richard Cohen, former head of the U.S. arm of Italy' Gruppo Ermenegildo Zegna, joining the company in August.

Since then, Cohen has brought a big fashion feel to the apparel maker. His biggest move was to hire four vice presidents, all from large apparel companies.

Among them is former Calvin Klein Inc. executive Max Weinstein, who joined as vice president of operations.

St. John is closely associated with the Gray family. Kelly Gray is the company's signature model and heads up marketing. Marie Gray is chief designer. Robert Gray ran the company from its 1962 founding until his retirement a few years ago.

Fetter proved a fit with the family-dominated business and oversaw a streamlining of operations in the past few years as the company's costs grew amid a retail push. But now Cohen -along with private equity firm and 80 percent owner Vestar Capital Partners--are calling the shots.

Staff reporter Rachel Brown can be reached by phone at [phone], ext. 224, or by email at [e-mail]. Michael Lyster of the Orange County Business Journal contributed to this column.