- Prachi Singh |
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) has announced that Edward Record has been named Chief Financial Officer, effective August 28, 2017. The company said, Record will report to Jerry Storch, CEO, HBC and serve as a member of the company's operating committee. He succeeds Paul Beesley, who, as previously announced by the company, is leaving HBC.
"I'm thrilled to be joining HBC, one of the most diverse retail operators with a global portfolio of leading banners, valuable real estate and a history of unique transactions that unlock shareholder value," said Edward Record in a media release.
The company added that with more than 25 years of experience, Record has overseen financial and operational performance for several large, national retailers. He joins HBC after over three years as chief financial officer for J. C. Penney Company (JCP). Prior to JCP, Record most recently served as executive vice president, chief operating officer of Stage Stores, and previously as its chief financial officer as in charge of overseeing all of the store locations and operations, IT, real estate, e-commerce, logistics, construction, legal and risk management aspects of the business in addition to leading its off price division.
"Ed's deep retail experience will support our company's mission to get ahead and stay ahead of the rapidly changing retail environment. He will play a key role as we continue to drive performance and make the right strategic decisions to improve our retail businesses, while also evaluating the best use of our real estate assets," added Jerry Storch, CEO, HBC.
He has also held executive leadership positions in finance at Kohl's and Belk. Record began his extensive career in retail at Kaufmann's, a division of The May Department Store Company, holding various roles across the finance department, ultimately working his way up to VP of finance and controller.
Picture:The Bay website
- Vivian Hendriksz |
London - Arcadia Group has appointed David Hagglund as creative director for Topshop/Topman. Hagglund, who currently runs his own creative agency in Stockholm, is set to take on the newly created role September 4, together with Topshop/Topman recently appointed CEO, Paul Price.
The move sees the fashion group combining the creative director roles for Topshop and Topman, which were previously overseen by Kate Phelan and Gordon Richardson respectively. The two are set to exit the business later this year. “Arcadia Group would like to thank them for their contribution and commitment to both brands over a number of years,” said the company in a statement.
Hagglund brings years of industry experience to the new, having worked for a wide range of clients including Hugo Boss and H&M. Prior to launching his own creative agency, Hagglund was Managing Director at Storakers McCann. He also served as an art director at Vogue Paris. “The appointment of David Hagglund, in the newly combined role, continues to mark the start of a new era for Topshop Topman in moving both brands forward in their ongoing global expansion,” said Sir Philip Green, chairman, and owner of Arcadia Group on the appointment.
“I am delighted to welcome David who will be joining Paul Price, our new CEO, on the same day and I look forward to working with them both to drive the business forward.” Price, who currently serves as chief merchandising officer at Burberry, was previously named CEO of Topshop/Topman last month.
Photo: Topshop, website
- Kristopher Fraser |
Carolina Herrera has added two power players to her executive roster. Lisa Arnold is now the company's vice president of retail and Thea Terenik is the new vice president of global merchandising. Both women will be based in the company's New York offices and report to Emilie Rubenfield, president of Carolina Herrera Ltd.
Arnold will be tasked with handling Carolina Herrera's global retail presence, with an emphasis on client services. She has an extensive list of experience in the industry, most recently overseeing Chanel's East Coast retail division, among other stints at brands including Roger Vivier and Ralph Lauren.
Terenik most recently worked at Calvin Klein, where she oversaw merchandising for men's and women's ready-to-wear and Calvin Klein Collection. Prior to that, she worked in merchandising at Alexander Wang and Barneys New York.
In her new role at Carolina Herrera, she will oversee global brand positioning and product strategy for luxury-ready-to-wear and bridal. One of her big goals is to increase distribution.
“We are focused on building a strong and dynamic team to lead this organization and brand to reach its full potential,” Rubinfeld said to WWD. “Lisa and Thea are two incredibly talented executives who possess the creativity and vision to make their mark at Carolina Herrera; additionally, they share a passion and enthusiasm for this very special brand.”
- Prachi Singh |
Columbia Sportswear Company has announced that Scott Kerslake, CEO of the company's Prana brand, intends to resign his position, effective August 18, in order to assume another leadership position in an adjacent industry.
Commenting on his departure, Tim Boyle, Columbia Sportswear Company's CEO said in a statement: "Scott has led Prana through a tremendous period of growth and created a solid brand platform and a strong team with tremendous potential. In addition, he has been an active member and positive influence within Columbia's corporate leadership team."
Scott Kerslake leaves Columbia Sportswear
The company said, Kerslake joined Prana as CEO in 2009 and engineered a strategy that enabled the brand to grow sales to 100 million dollars in 2014, when Columbia Sportswear Company acquired the brand. Since then, Prana brand sales have grown nearly 50 percent.
Outgoing Prana CEO Kerslake added: "Leading the Prana brand for the past 8 years, becoming a part of Columbia Sportswear Company's family of brands, and serving as a member of Columbia's leadership team have all been true highlights of my career.”
On the interim basis, Prana’s responsibilities will be led by CFO Mike Pogue and Vice President of Marketing Nancy Dynan. They will report to Doug Morse, Columbia's Senior Vice President of emerging brands & APAC.
Picture:Facebook/Prana
- Prachi Singh |
Columbia Sportswear Company has announced the resignation of senior vice president of global sourcing and manufacturing, Steve Woodside, effective immediately.
"I am thankful for Steve's contributions over the past three years, during which he advanced our sourcing strategy and strengthened strategic partnerships with our contract manufacturers and raw materials vendors globally," said Columbia Executive Vice President and COO Tom Cusick, in a statement.
The company said, Woodside joined Columbia Sportswear in August 2014 as vice president of global manufacturing and served as senior vice president of global sourcing and manufacturing since May 2015.
Picture:Columbia website
- Prachi Singh |
VF Corporation’s executive chairman and director Eric C. Wiseman has decided to retire effective October 28, 2017. VF’s board of directors has elected President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Steven E. Rendle, to the role of Chairman effective upon Wiseman’s retirement. The company said, Wiseman’s retirement completes VF’s planned leadership succession, which began with the promotion of Rendle to president and chief operating officer in June 2015, and to CEO in January of this year.
“Now is the right time to take this final step in our leadership succession plan,” Wiseman said in a statement, adding, “With credit to our board of directors, the plan and its implementation have proven successful. Steve’s transition to CEO has gone smoothly, and just as he was the right person to serve as VF’s next CEO, Steve is the right person to now serve as our chairman of the Board.”
VF’s chairman Eric Wiseman to retire in October
“Succession planning at the highest levels of VF’s senior leadership team is a key component of the company’s long-term success, a responsibility the board takes very seriously,” said Alan McCollough, Lead Independent Director of VF’s Board of Directors in a media release, adding, “The decision to select Steve as Chairman was made following a thorough evaluation of the required skill and leadership capabilities necessary to fuel the company’s continued global growth.”
The company said, Wiseman began his career with VF in 1995 when he joined the company as executive vice president of the JanSport business. He then held a progression of leadership roles, including chairman of VF's sportswear and outdoor coalitions and executive vice president, Global Brands. He was named president and chief operating officer in 2006, and elected to VF's board of directors that same year. Wiseman was named CEO in January 2008 and chairman of the Board in August 2008.
“Eric is a proven leader and throughout his career he has inspired others to excellence. His success has always been guided by values that are core to who he is, including respect, integrity, determination and grit. During his time as VF’s chairman and CEO, Eric helped to successfully guide the company through the great recession and its aftermath, and he grew VF’s business presence around the world. And, it’s especially noteworthy that during Eric’s time as CEO the company’s share price more than tripled,” added Rendle.
Picture:Steven Rendle, VF website
- Danielle Wightman-Stone |
Former Chanel chief executive Maureen Chiquet has been nominated to the Canada Goose board of directors as an independent director.
Outerwear specialist Canada Goose states that Chiquet will bring a “global vision, international leadership and deep luxury acumen” to the board, as the brand continues its global expansion that includes the opening of its first European flagship store in London this autumn.
“Maureen is a highly-regarded industry trailblazer and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team as we grow our Board with the right people and the right skills to help us leverage the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Dani Reiss, president and chief executive of Canada Goose. “Her deep expertise in growing businesses on an international scale, and extensive track record of sustaining brand excellence will be invaluable as we continue to expand our global footprint and build an enduring legacy.”
Chiquet, who was Chanel’s first global chief executive overseeing the business and brand’s world-wide expansion for nearly a decade, brings more than 30 years of retail industry experience to the Canada Goose board and is expected to provide strong product, marketing, and business operations expertise.
“I have long admired Canada Goose for its dedication to authenticity, quality and craftsmanship and I am honoured to be a part of such a highly coveted global brand as it embarks on its next chapter of growth. I look forward to joining this winning team and to supporting Canada Goose’s exciting future,” added Chiquet.
Chiquet will be nominated for election to the Board of Directors at Canada Goose’s Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on August 15 in Toronto.
- Prachi Singh |
Falke has announced the appointment of Martin Winkler as the new CEO of the Falke Group. The company said, Winkler follows Uwe Bergheim, who has stepped down after his retirement.
“Winkler is a proven expert in marketing and sales. His special knowledge and experience as General Manager will be of tremendous importance for the strategic focus of the Falke Group and further internationalization of the brands Falke and Burlington,” said Franz-Peter and Paul Falke, in a media statement, adding, “we´d like to thank Mr. Bergheim for always trustworthy and good cooperation.”
The company said, 48-year-old executive comes from LG Electronics where he was chief operating officer being responsible for the consumer business in Germany.
Previously, the company added, he worked for ten years in various leading marketing and sales positions for the Sony Group. Most recently he was country head Germany for the consumer electronics & IT business.
"I am happy to be able to help shaping the future in such a renowned and successful company as Falke. I am looking forward to the cooperation and further development of the organization and the brands Falke and Burlington," added Winkler.
Picture courtesy: Falke
- AFP |
Twenty years ago, stylist Gianni Versace was gunned down in Miami, plunging his fashion house into crisis. Two decades on, it is one of the world's top global luxury brands thanks to his little sister, Donatella.
He had gone out for the morning papers: as Versace returned to his Miami beach mansion on July 15, 1997, he was shot dead by Andrew Cunanan, a homosexual prostitute known for his obsession with all things luxury. The fashion world mourned deeply. The stylist to celebrities from Madonna to Elton John had been just 50 years old.
"He was a 360-degrees creator, a real artist, he had a pure creative vision on colours and materials," Stefania Saviolo, director of the luxury and fashion centre at Bocconi University, told AFP In Milan. The group he had created with his brother Santo in 1978 had been one of the hottest fashion brands in the world.
It fell to Versace's platinum blonde sister Donatella -- to whom Gianni had entrusted the casual line Versus -- to take over as artistic director. But the brand struggled to recover from Versace's murder. Donatella, who had worked for 14 years alongside Gianni, was severely affected by the loss of her brother and confessed to feeling "vulnerable".
Depression and cocaine
"You can't invent yourself as an artistic director overnight," says Saviolo, particularly as Donatella took over "at a time when fashion was changing a lot, with many collections and great pressure on artistic directors".
Donatella, instantly recognisable for her famous locks and perpetual tan, sank into a period of depression and cocaine use before detoxifying in 2005. The year before, the brand had acquired a new CEO in Giancarlo Di Risio. The former Fendi boss refocused the Medusa on the luxury market, streamlining licensing and franchising deals and developing the accessories range.
Amid rumours in the press of a fall-out between the family and Di Risio over planned cuts, he was replaced in 2009 by Gian Giacomo Ferraris, who moved over from the Jil Sander fashion house. Ferraris wasted no time in launching an extensive reorganisation plan to return Versace to profitability, cutting 25 percent of its workforce and closing some boutiques before opening new ones as the books improved.
His intervention "doubled the turnover, which rose from 268 million euros in 2009 to 645 million in 2015," according to David Pambianco, who heads up a consultancy company in his name. By 2011 the historic brand had returned to profit after a gruelling three years of losses.
'So much potential'
"The right balance was struck between Ferraris and Donatella, the dialogue between them was good and there was great respect for Donatella's creativity and vision," Saviolo said. The family, which had always refused to relinquish control to a luxury conglomerate like so many of its fellow Italian fashion houses, finally yielded a 20 percent stake in 2014 to the US private equity firm Blackstone.
The move, which Donatella said would allow Versace to "achieve its potential", resulted in a cash injection into the luxury designer and boosted its presence in emerging markets. The bet paid off: despite a difficult global context, sales increased by some 17 percent in 2014 and in 2015.
The house said it was time to "move onto the next phase" and Ferraris was replaced in May 2016 by Jonathan Akeroyd, former CEO of Alexander McQueen. Results last year were mixed, with sales up 3.7 percent to 668 million euros but the company admitting a loss of 7.4 million euros due in particular to funds sunk into its network of boutiques.
These results "have caused some uncertainty", but "the company is healthy, certainly more than 10 years ago," said Pambianco. "Versace remains one of the most beautiful brands in the world in the luxury sector" and has "still so much potential to express", he said, pointing out that luxury house Gucci for example "has a turnover that is seven times higher".
Saviolo agrees: "Versace has recovered its lost "red carpet DNA" and its style is currently "very daring, very strong." (AFP)
Photo: Versace AW17, Catwalkpictures
- Prachi Singh |
Tiffany & Co. has named Alessandro Bogliolo as the company's next Chief Executive Officer. The company said, he is expected to assume the role by October 2, 2017 and upon joining the company will also join the board of directors.
"Today's announcement concludes the board's thorough process to identify and recruit an accomplished leader to position the company for sustainable growth in the years ahead," said Michael J. Kowalski, Chairman and interim CEO in a statement, adding, "Alessandro has a well-deserved reputation for creativity and execution, having previously led a number of international brands to success and improved performance. I also believe that his vision and team-oriented approach make him an ideal fit with Tiffany's long-standing values."
Tiffany said in a statement that Bogliolo is a veteran luxury industry executive who previously served for 16 years at Bulgari SpA, including in the roles of chief operating officer and executive vice president, jewelry, watches & accessories. Most recently, he worked as chief executive officer of global apparel and accessories company Diesel SpA, where he has led the company's efforts to revitalize its brand and enhance the customer experience. During his career, Bogliolo has worked in a broad range of countries, including China, Singapore, Italy, France, Spain and the United States.
"I am honoured and excited by the opportunity to lead this remarkable company," said Bogliolo, adding "Tiffany, with its legendary history, has always represented luxury, style, and an extraordinary standard of quality and excellence, and I look forward to working with the board and the rest of the Tiffany team to build on this foundation."
Picture:Tiffany website