A month ago, Men's Wearhouse Inc. called co-founder and Chairman George Zimmer the "chief driving force behind the Company." By Wednesday, the seller of discount suits had driven him out.

The public ousting of Mr. Zimmer, who opened the first Men's Wearhouse with a hand-painted sign and $7,000 in 1973 and who has been the face of the retail chain's advertising, is a reminder of the often-fractious relationships between companies and their founders.

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