New leadership for a new year, we bring you the latest luxury industry appointments at LVMH, Fisker Automotive, Alexander Wang, Estée Lauder & Bloomberg Pursuits
The Latest Appointments: Harrods, Balenciaga & Louis Vuitton
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
New leadership for a new year, we bring you the latest luxury industry appointments at LVMH, Fisker Automotive, Alexander Wang, Estée Lauder & Bloomberg Pursuits
New leadership for a new year, we bring you the latest luxury industry appointments at LVMH, Fisker Automotive, Alexander Wang, Estée Lauder & Bloomberg Pursuits.
Brigitte Taittinger has left her post as president of Annick Goutal, following 20 years at the helm. The move comes just eighteen months after Korean group, Amore Pacific, joined forced with US Starwood Capital to acquire the perfume house. A statement indicated that her decision had been made in agreement with shareholders.
Over at BMW, Christoph Stark will retire as China head in February after overseeing BMW sales jump about 15-fold over eight years in the country. Karsten Engel, currently the senior vice president of BMW Group Germany, will take over the China portfolio from March 1 according to Bloomberg.
Nicolas Abboud, chief executive officer of de Grisogono, has suddenly left his post citing family reasons, after only about six months on the job. The company said Abboud’s departure was unrelated to his strategy for the company and not a decision by the board. Abboud is said to be looking for another job in Paris.
Finally, management changes are afoot at Escada following the departure of Denise Shepard – managing director UK – and her French counterpart Nathalie Banessy. Jacob Bjerregaard, VP of sales and trade marketing, will now oversee development in German, Austrian, English, French and Italian markets.
Tanja Ruhnke, VP Communications, Alexander Wang
Tanja Ruhnke has joined Alexander Wang as vice president of global branding and communications, taking over responsibilities from Leslie Rubisch, who recently transitioned into consulting. Ms. Ruhnke most recently served as head of communications at Rag & Bone.
Source: WWD
Alexander Wang, Creative Director, Balenciaga
PPR have announced the appointment of Alexander Wang to the post of Creative Director of the Balenciaga fashion house. Wang now has responsibility for designing the brand’s women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and accessories collections, as well as for Balenciaga’s image.
Source: PPR
Ted Moncreiff, Editor, Bloomberg Pursuits
Ted Moncreiff has been appointed as the editor of Pursuits, the luxury magazine for Bloomberg terminal customers. Mr. Moncreiff most recently served at Condé Nast Ideactive, the ad agency-like outfit within the company’s corporate ad sales division.
Source: WWD
Marc Rey, President US, Coty Prestige
Coty Inc. has confirmed the appointment of Marc Rey as president, Coty Prestige U.S., and regional vice president, Coty Prestige, North America, effective Jan. 2, 2013. Rey replaces Bob Cankes, who will retire in the second half of this fiscal year, after 14 years with Coty and a decorated career within the beauty industry.
Source: Coty
Daniel Wingate, Fashion Director, Escada
German fashion house Escada has announced the promotion of Daniel Wingate, current design director of the Escada mainline collection, to fashion director. Mr. Wingate will be responsible for the direction of the fashion house’s Escada and Escada Sport lines.
Source: FashionUnited
Thia Breene, Lynne Green, Presidents, Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder has expanded its number of Group Presidents, from two to four, adding two new senior positions to top management. Thia Breen has been named to the new position of Group President North America, and will oversee both the U.S. and Canadian affiliates.
Lynne Greene has been named to the new position of Group President, continuing to oversee the Clinique, Origins and Ojon global brands, with the addition of the Aveda and Darphin brands.
Source: Estée Lauder Companies
Joel Ewanick, Chief of Global Sales, Fisker
Fisker Automotive has hired Joel Ewanick, the former head of marketing at General Motors, as its interim chief of global sales and marketing. Fisker also confirmed that Richard Beattie, who had been the company’s chief commercial officer, was retiring.
Source: NYTimes
Michelle Peluso, Board, Gilt Groupe
Online luxury retailer Gilt Groupe has added Michelle Peluso to its board of directors. Ms. Peluso spent the previous six years as president and CEO of Travelocity and Executive Vice President of Sabre Holding Corp. Prior, she served as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group.
Source: PRNewswire
Sarah Brown, Director, Harrods
Qatar Holding has announced that Sarah Brown, the wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has been appointed as a non-executive director of Harrods. A spokesperson for Qatar Holding revealed that Brown would provide “input and insight into the company’s strategic initiatives and overall business”.
Source: Fashion United
Neeraj Khemlani , SVP, Hearst Corp
In a new role for Hearst Corp, Neeraj Khemlani has been tapped as senior vice president and chief creative officer. Mr. Khemlani will work with Hearst’s creative teams, managers and group heads across digital and print platforms, after serving since 2009 as special assistant to the CEO of digital media.
Source: WWD
Gerd von Podewils, SVP, Hugo Boss
Gerd von Podewils has been named senior vice president, global communications at Hugo Boss, effective Jan. 1. Podewils succeeds 12-year Boss veteran Philipp Wolff, who is leaving the German fashion company at the end of the year to pursue “new business interests.”
Source: WWD
Pietro Borsotti, Commercial Director, Leonard
French fashion house Leonard said it has appointed Pietro Borsotti as commercial director, in charge of the distribution network and development of both the main collection and the secondary line. Mr. Borsotti was previously managing director of the French divisions of Trussardi and Valentino Fashion Group.
Source: FashionSnoops360
Michael Burke, CEO, Louis Vuitton
Michael Burke will re-join Louis Vuitton as CEO, following the news that Jordi Constans is stepping down “due to the discovery of a significant health issue.” Mr. Burke most recently served as the head of Bulgari, but also ran Vuitton’s North American business from 1993 to 1997.
Source: Bloomberg
Pauline Brown, Chairman, LVMH US
LVMH has tapped Pauline Brown as chairman of its North American arm, LVMH Inc, after working as an independent investor and adviser to emerging luxury brands for the past two years. Prior, Ms. Brown served as a managing director at The Carlyle Group, working on the private equity firm’s global consumer and retail team.
Source: WWD
Ivana Omazic, Senior Creative, Maison Martin Margiela
Former Celine designer Ivana Omazic recently joined notoriously press-shy Maison Martin Margiela in a ‘senior creative capacity’. After working with brands such as Prada Sport, Jil Sander and Miu Miu, this is the first time Omazic has had such a high-profile role at a house, since Celine.
Source: Fashionista
Ron Offir, SVP eCommerce, Michael Kors
Ron Offir has joined Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. as senior vice president of its e-commerce division. Mr. Offir will be responsible for leading the company’s new global e-commerce strategy, following tenure as president of e-commerce and retail at The Jones Group.
Source: WWD
Kate Lanphear, Style Director, T Magazine
Ex-Elle style director Kate Lanphear has joined T: The New York Times Style Magazine as style director and will report on the upcoming shows for the U.S. glossy. Ms. Lanphear was named Style Director at Elle in 2008, and was at the magazine for a number of year’s prior.
Source: Fashionista
For more in the series of The Latest Appointments, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Appointments: Christie’s, Richemont & Ferrari
– The Latest Appointments: PPR, Cadillac & Baccarat
– The Latest Appointments: Mulberry, DVF & Ralph Lauren
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.