The Latest Appointments at Sofitel, Amex & Vente Privée, PPR Americas, Gilt Groupe, Saks, Estée Lauder, Charlotte Olympia and Belstaff
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The Latest Appointments, Cerruti, Berluti & Parmigiani
This is the featured image caption
Credit: This is the featured image credit
Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.
PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.
In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”
The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris
The Latest Appointments at Sofitel, Amex & Vente Privée, PPR Americas, Gilt Groupe, Saks, Estée Lauder, Charlotte Olympia and Belstaff
The Latest Appointments at Sofitel, Amex & Vente Privée, PPR Americas, Gilt Groupe, Saks, Estée Lauder, Charlotte Olympia and Belstaff.
This month has seen another bumper crop of senior level movements within the luxury industry, with Louis Vuitton announcing a successor to long-serving CEO, Yves Carcelle. PPR has announced a commitment to America, which will see the group opening dedicated headquarters in New York City and move current senior vice president, Laurent Clacquin, into the newly created ‘head of PPR Americas’ role.
But just as there has been a string of key appointments, this week has seen a handful of key exits. Just this morning, the Wall Street Journal reported that Daimler AG has forced the U.S. head of Mercedes-Benz to step down, effective immediately, despite recent U.S. sales growth at the luxury brand. Ernst Lieb was relieved of his duties as president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, effective immediately, after serving a total of thirty-six years at Daimler.
Also this week, Women’s Wear Daily revealed that Alberto Lavia has quit as chief executive officer of Moncler, effective immediately. Earlier this year, French private-equity fund Eurazeo purchased a 45% stake in the label, yet it is unknown whether or not this is the cause of the sudden resignation. Chairman, Remo Ruffini, will assume CEO powers until a successor has been selected.
Jordi Constans, CEO, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton recently announced a successor to CEO Yves Carcelle, who has led the group since 1990. Jordi Constans will work alongside Mr. Carcelle in 2012, before taking over in early 2013. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Constans worked as managing director of one of Danone SA’s divisions, as well as a member of Danone’s executive committee.
Source: Financial Times
Olga Berluti, Creative Director, Berluti Art Line
Under the leadership of Antoine Arnault, Olga Berluti has been named Creative Director of the Berluti Art line. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Berluti served as Artistic Director for the brand, overseeing the design of shoes, bags, visuals and decorative objects.
Source: Fashion Monitor
Catharine Vautrin, CEO, Cerruti
Following the purchase of Cerruti for €53 million earlier this year, Chinese group, Li & Fung, have appointed Catherine Vautrin as CEO. Most recently, Ms. Vautrin has run her own consulting practice in Italy, following seven years as president at Emilio Pucci, and eight years at Louis Vuitton. Ms. Vautrin has also been a member of the board of directors at Yoox since 2009.
Source: WWD
Philippe de Korodi, COO, Parmigiani
Parmigiani Fleurier has appointed Philippe de Korodi as Chief Operating Officer, following the brand’s many developments abroad and the creation of subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Mr. de Korodi formerly served as managing director of Caran D’Ache from 2008 to 2011, and was chosen for his expertise in managing a product firmly anchored in the “Swiss-made” concept of quality.
Source: World Tempus
Ian Alexandre, Vice President, Sofitel Pacific
In a newly created role for the brand, Ian Alexandre has been appointed to the position of vice president Sofitel Pacific, and general manager of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. The new vice president role oversees Sofitel’s network of nine luxury hotels and resorts across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, with Mr. Alexandre also taking direct responsibility for the brand’s flagship hotel in the region, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
Source: eTravel Blackboard
John Saroff, Vice President, Amex & Vente Privée
The joint venture created by American Express and vente-privee.com has appointed two former Google executives to lead their new deals based website said to be launching this year. John Saroff – previously head of strategic partnerships for TV ads at Google – has been appointed vice president in charge of digital content. Jill Szuchmacher has been appointed vice president of business development, a role she previously held at Google.
Source: Market Watch
Laurent Clacquin, Head of PPR Americas
PPR have begun establishing offices in New York, appointing current senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and chief of staff Laurent Claquin as its new head of PPR Americas. WWD has reported that ‘Claquin will not directly manage operations, but build an office to support PPR’s luxury and sport/lifestyle brands, develop synergies, optimise efficiencies and raise the profile of the French company in an important sphere of influence. Functions are to include corporate communications, corporate human resources, taxation, real estate, legal affairs, sustainability, IT and security’.
Source: WWD
Andrew Page, President, Gilt Groupe
Gilt Groupe Inc has promoted Andrew Page to the role of President from Chief Financial Officer, reporting to founder and CEO Kevin Ryan. In his new position, Mr. Page will have operational responsibilities for Gilt’s various business units, including Women’s, Gilt MAN, Gilt Children, Gilt Home, Gilt Taste, Park & Bond, and Gilt City.
Source: Gilt Groupe
Denise Incandela, Chief Marketing Officer, Saks
In a newly created role, Denise Incandela has been promoted to chief marketing officer of Saks Fifth Avenue. Ms. Incandela joined Saks Fifth Avenue in 1999 and held the titles of senior vice president of business development; group senior vice president of Saks Fifth Avenue, and executive vice president.
Source: WWD
Bonnie Takhar, CMO, Charlotte Olympia
Following last year’s exit from Halston, where she served as CEO, Bonnie Takhar has been appointed chief commercial and merchandising officer at footwear brand Charlotte Olympia. Her focus will be on wholesale relationships, the retail network and merchandising strategy, no doubt drawing on her experience as chief commercial officer at Jimmy Choo.
Source: WWD
Richard Ferretti, Estée Lauder
Former creative director of Coach and the Reed Krakoff brands, Richard Ferretti has been named senior vice president and global creative director for the Estée Lauder division of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. Ferretti is succeeding Aerin Lauder, who continues to work as the style and image director for the brand as well as its spokeswoman.
Source: WWD
Damian Mould, Chief Marketing Director, Belstaff
Following its acquisition by Labelux Group, Harry Slatkin and Tommy Hilfiger, Belstaff has appointed Damian Mould as chief marketing director. Mr. Mould had previously founded the brand-marketing firm Slice before selling it to The Engine Group.
Source: Fashion Week Daily
For more in the series of The Latest Appointments, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Appointments, Ruinart, Sotheby’s & Ralph Lauren
– The Latest Appointments, Sofitel, Halston & Louis Vuitton
– The Latest Appointments, Belstaff, Trussardi & L’Oreal Luxury
Creative Strategist, Digital
Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.
