Jan. 31, 2019: Farfetch has named Holli Rogers to the newly created role of chief fashion officer, effective immediately. Rogers will continue to serve as CEO of Browns, a role she held since 2015 when Farfetch acquired the London luxury-goods retailer.
Jan. 30, 2019: Fashion-focused nonprofit Delivering Good has named Andrea Weiss as its new board chair, succeeding Allan Ellinger, who co-founded Fashion Delivers and served as Delivering Good’s chairman for several years. (K.I.D.S/Fashion Delivers changed its name to Delivering Good in 2017.) Weiss will work closely with Lisa Gurwitch, president and CEO of Delivering Good. A multichannel retail expert, Weiss is co-founder of The O Alliance, a new consulting model focused on aligning retailers’ organizational practices with digitally-savvy consumers. She currently serves on the board of directors for RPT Realty, Cracker Barrel and Nutrisystem. Ellinger will continue to serve on the Delivering Good board of directors.
Jan. 29, 2019: Surf lifestyle brand Reef has appointed Mike Jensen as president. Jensen, who has held various leadership roles at brands such as Converse and Asics, most recently served as GM and head of brand for DC Shoes, a division of Boardriders. In his new post, Jensen will report directly to Rockport Group CEO Gregg Ribatt. Reef is an affiliate of the Rockport Company.
Jan. 29, 2019: Starting Feb. 1, Anne-Laure Descours will take on the new position of chief sourcing officer at Puma. The executive, who joined the German sportswear brand in 2012, has been supervising product development and sourcing activities of global apparel and accessories. Her next role will center on sustainability within the company, with Descours boasting almost 30 years of experience in the sourcing industry. Prior to Puma, she worked for Li & Fung and Otto International — both located in Hong Kong, which will continue to be her primary base.
Jan. 29, 2019: Jim Gold, president and chief merchandising officer at the Neiman Marcus Group, is exiting his role. The veteran executive served the company for nearly three decades introducing and building distribution with luxury brands including Tom Ford, Prada and Brunello Cucinelli. He crafted the business plan for the group’s Last Call off-price venture as well as consolidating the merchandising and planning teams of Neiman Marcus stores and direct-to-consumer operations. Gold will remain with the company until March 15, the opening date of the department store’s first New York City outpost, in Hudson Yards.
Jan. 28, 2019: Guess Inc. has tapped Carlos Alberini as its new chief executive officer, replacing Victor Herrero. Following a decade as its president and chief operating officer, Alberini left the company in 2010 to join Restoration Hardware as co-CEO until 2014. He was then appointed chairman and CEO of Lucky Brand. Along with the announcement, Guess said that co-founder Paul Marciano, who resigned from his post as executive chairman last year following sexual misconduct allegations, will remain as chief creative officer at the request of the board of directors.
Jan. 25, 2019: Following a single-season hiatus at Paris Fashion Week, Lanvin has named Bruno Sialelli its new creative director, overseeing both womenswear and menswear. The 31-year-old designer, who hails from Loewe, takes the helm after Olivier Lapidus departed the fashion house — the oldest French label in existence. Sialelli becomes the fourth lead designer in four years at Lanvin and previously held positions at Acne Studios, Paco Rabanne and Balenciaga.
Jan. 25, 2019: Li & Fung has appointed Darren Palfrey as its chief digital officer in a bid to grow the company’s digital strategy. Among the executive’s primary responsibilities are: helping build the LF Digital Platform, which connects suppliers, customers and other partners. Palfrey previously took on senior-level roles at logistics firm Uniserve, retail marketing business TCC Global and Gravity Supply Chain, a company he co-founded in 2014.
Jan. 24, 2019: Millard “Mickey” Drexler, chairman and former CEO of J.Crew Group Inc., has retired from his post as chairman to devote his time to the development of Drexler Ventures LLC and other interests, the company announced today. Drexler had retired from the CEO role in July 2017. The board of directors has elected Chad Leat, who served as a director of J.Crew since January 2017, to succeed Drexler as chairman, effective immediately. Drexler, who joined J.Crew in 2003 as CEO, will continue to serve as a strategic adviser to the office of the CEO and the board. Under his leadership, J.Crew blossomed into a leading global fashion brand in the 2000s. In 2006, Drexler also founded Madewell.
Jan. 24, 2019: Portland Product Werks has named Margaret Doran VP of sales for Pendleton Footwear. Most recently, she was VP at jewelry brand Alex and Ani. The move takes Doran back to her footwear roots, which include executive sales positions at Caleres Inc. and Wolverine Worldwide.
Jan. 23, 2019: Under Armour has revamped its human resources leadership, hiring Tchernavia Rocker as its first chief people and culture officer. The newly created title emphasizes the company’s focus on its employees and their overall work satisfaction. Rocker, who begins work in February, joins the Baltimore-based athletic label after nearly two decades of HR leadership roles at Harley-Davidson Inc.
Jan. 22, 2019: Former Nike executive Phil Dickinson has been named the creative director of Superdry, effective today, according to multiple reports. While with the Swoosh, Dickinson held several roles including global creative director of football and global creative director of Nike Sportswear. He also helped revitalize soccer brand Umbro in 2011 as its VP creative director when it was owned by Nike. Dickinson also founded a design agency, Some Ideas, in 2013.
Jan. 17, 2019: Puma has announced the appointment of Arne Freundt as regional general manager of Europe and EEMEA, effective immediately. Freundt joined the Germany-based company in 2011 as head of global strategy, moving up to his most recent post as global director of retail and e-commerce. He succeeds Puma veteran Martyn Bowen, who left his role to pursue personal interests, and reports to CEO Bjørn Gulden.
Jan. 17, 2019: Kathmandu Holdings Ltd. has tapped Amy Beck as the president of Oboz and Kathmandu North America, based at the company’s headquarters in Bozeman, Mont. More recently, Beck held executive positions at Smartwool and Lucy Activewear — both part of VF Corp. She steps into her new role on April 1.
Jan. 15, 2019: J.C. Penney Co. has appointed two new senior executives. Starting Jan. 21, Mike Robbins, EVP of private brands and supply chain, will take on the role of EVP, chief stores and supply chain officer. Truett Horne, an associate principal at McKinsey & Co., will join as chief transformation officer, reporting directly to CEO Jill Soltau. JCPenney added that the search for a chief financial officer — following Jeffrey Davis’ departure in September — is “well underway.”
Jan. 14, 2019: Matt Marcotte has been named COO of Bergdorf Goodman and will be in charge of the operations and retail experience for the New York-based retailer, effective immediately. Most recently, Marcotte was EVP and head of global direct-to-consumer operations for Tory Burch Ltd. and previously held roles with Apple Inc. and Gap Inc. This marks the second executive appointment by new Bergdorf president Darcy Penick. In October 2018, she named Yumi Shin chief merchant to oversee all categories.
Jan. 11, 2019: Saks has shuffled its VP and DMM ranks, giving several executives new assignments. Betty Wang now oversees women’s handbags and accessories, while Will Cooper will head women’s shoes. In addition, Jamillah Davis, formerly buying director of men’s shoes and accessories, was promoted to VP and DMM for men’s footwear and accessories.
Jan. 11, 2019: Erik Nordstrom is now officially designated as the principal executive officer of Nordstrom Inc. after the death of his brother, Blake Nordstrom, on Jan. 2. Erik Nordstrom’s title or compensation doesn’t change, according to an SEC filing. He will continue to serve as co-president of the company with brother Pete Nordstrom.
Jan. 10, 2019: DSW has announced three new executive positions: Debbie Ferrée has been promoted to vice chair and president at DSW Inc.; Bill Jordan assumes the role of president at DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse; and Mary Turner is now president of the Shoe Company and Shoe Warehouse banners in Canada. Ferrée, Jordan and Turner will all report to DSW Inc. CEO Roger Rawlins, along with Camuto Group president Simon Nankervis. They officially assume their posts on Feb. 3.
Jan. 9, 2019: Tricia Bouras has been appointed president of Dearfoams, a division of RG Barry Corp. in Pickerington, Ohio. Bouras succeeds Lee Smith, who will be leading new development and innovation for RG Barry Corp. Both will report to president and CEO Bob Mullaney. Bouras was most recently VP and GM of the shapewear and hosiery categories, as well as DKNY intimates and legwear at Hanesbrands.
Jan. 9, 2019: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association has named Rick Salomone its new managing director of sponsorship. The executive was formerly the CEO of holographic science firm SURYS and spent 21 years with the 3M Company, where he led a number of businesses, including advertising services and packaging solutions.
Jan. 7, 2019: Hybrid Apparel has announced the appointment of Bill Hutchison as CEO, effective Jan. 14. Prior to joining Hybrid Apparel, Hutchison was the retail division president of AM Retail Group, a subsidiary of G-III Apparel Group. Aside from being charged with building organizational structures, the exec worked to build e-commerce businesses for brands such as G.H. Bass, DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld Paris.
Jan. 7, 2019: Valentino has tapped Gianfranco Ditadi as its new North America president and CEO, starting at the end of February. The executive currently serves as the regional manager of the Tod’s division in China and previously held senior management roles with Ralph Lauren and Prada Group in Asia. The North America position has been vacant following the departure of Sandra Jovicic in September.
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Industry Moves: December 2018
Industry Moves: November 2018
Industry Moves: October 2018
