Bold Moves – Lelio Gavazza Appointed CEO Of Tom Ford Fashion & Maureen Chiquet Appointed to the Board of Directors of Kering

L’oréal Paris Announced Kendall Jenner As New Global Ambassador

L’Oréal Paris welcomed Kendall Jenner to the family.

“L’Oréal Paris is honoured to announce our partnership with one of the most powerful women in the world. It’s a new high in our mission to empower every woman, everywhere. At any other time, Kendall Jenner might have been as successful as she is now, but her worth and her choices and her image might have been defined or even controlled by others. But nobody defines Kendall Jenner but Kendall Jenner. She is the embodiment of everything Gen-Z stands for, owning her image, proudly growing in her self-worth, and inspiring others to do the same.” Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, L’Oréal Paris Global President.

“I’m honoured to be part of a new sisterhood of strong, powerful women and to be able to say those iconic words, I’m worth it,” said Kendall Jenner.  “Joining the L’Oréal Paris family and having the opportunity to embody everything the brand stands for feels like a true full-circle moment.”

With 350 million followers on social media, Kendall Jenner has her own global media platform. With complete agency over what she shares with the world, she inspires women to be themselves and share their lives on their terms.

Kendall Jenner joins L’Oréal Paris to be the lead of the brand’s makeup campaigns starting in September 2023.

Lelio Gavazza Appointed CEO Of Tom Ford Fashion

Ermenegildo Zegna announced the appointment of Lelio Gavazza to the newly created position of CEO, Tom Ford Fashion, effective September 18, 2023.

Gavazza will report directly to Ermenegildo “Gildo” Zegna, Chairman and CEO of Zegna Group, and he will be part of the Senior Management of the Group.

Gavazza will be responsible for the end-to-end of the Tom Ford Fashion business, from collection development to merchandising, through production as well as retail and wholesale distribution.

Gildo Zegna commented: “Lelio’s track record of strong global leadership brings outstanding luxury expertise to Tom Ford Fashion across retail management, wholesale distribution, marketing, digital and key markets, including China. I have personally known and appreciated Lelio for many years, and I’m confident that his world-class business acumen, deep international experience, and leadership skills will prove invaluable in the development of the Tom Ford Fashion business globally.”

Gavazza will work closely with Guillaume Jesel, President and CEO, Tom Ford, ensuring the alignment of fashion with the holistic luxury strategy for the brand.

“I am delighted to welcome Lelio Gavazza as CEO, Tom Ford Fashion. The Estée Lauder Companies and Tom Ford have had an exceptional and longstanding relationship with Gildo Zegna and the Zegna Group. We look forward to working closely with Gildo, Lelio, and their teams to take Tom Ford Fashion to its next level in global luxury,” said Guillaume Jesel.

Gavazza brings more than twenty years of experience in global luxury and luxury distribution to his role as CEO, Tom Ford Fashion. He joins the company from LVMH Group, where he is currently Executive Vice President, Sales & Retail at Bulgari. During his time at Bulgari, and prior to his current role, Gavazza held a series of key regional leadership roles, including Managing Director of Greater China, and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Lelio Gavazza said: “I am honored to join Zegna Group as its CEO of Tom Ford Fashion and look forward to working with Gildo Zegna and partnering with Guillaume Jesel to continue to foster the growth of Tom Ford at the pinnacle of luxury fashion.”

Maureen Chiquet Appointment to the Board of Directors of Kering

On July 18, 2023, the Board of Directors, after consultation with the Nominations & Governance Committee, decided to coopt Maureen Chiquet as independent director for the remainder of Daniela Riccardi’s term of office (expiring on the date of the shareholder meeting approving the financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025). She will join Kering’s Board of Directors in September 2023.

The cooptation of Maureen Chiquet will be subject to ratification by the shareholder meeting approving the financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

Maureen Chiquet, a US citizen, has more than 35 years’ experience in the fashion and luxury goods sector, including nine years as Global CEO of Chanel. 

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, said: “We are delighted to welcome Maureen Chiquet to Kering’s Board of Directors. Her varied professional experience, her in-depth knowledge of our sector and her international background will be undeniable assets in enriching the diversity of our Board’s profiles.”

Maureen Chiquet became the first Global CEO of Chanel in 2007, elevating the house’s iconic brand and spearheading its worldwide expansion. After leaving Chanel in 2016, she authored a book, Beyond The Label: Women, Leadership and Success on Our Own Terms, which charts her career and unique perspective on women in leadership. She chairs the boards of Golden Goose and La Double J, is a Non-Executive Director of Canada Goose and of Credo, a clean beauty retailer, and works as a Senior Advisor for Permira. Previously, Maureen Chiquet sat on the board of Vivendi, and served as a Trustee of the Yale Corporation and The New York Academy of Art.

After graduating from Yale University with a degree in literature, Maureen Chiquet moved to Paris to begin her career in marketing at L’Oréal. She then pivoted to fashion, joining The Gap, and helping to launch and build the Old Navy brand. She was named president of Banana Republic before becoming COO and President of U.S operations of Chanel in 2003.

True Religion Names Kristen D’Arcy as Chief Marketing Officer

True Religion announced the appointment of Kristen D’Arcy as Chief Marketing Officer. This new role, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Michael Buckley, is an instrumental component to True Religion’s future growth strategy. In addition to driving new customers to the True Religion brand, she will be responsible for all aspects of marketing, including content creation, creative, brand, public relations, influencers, social media, partnerships, and philanthropy.

“Kristen is the ideal candidate to fill this critical role,” said Buckley. “She has a proven track record of creating business growth, fostering brand love, and managing high-performing teams. Her vast experience with top retail brands including Pacific Sun, Ralph Lauren, Coty, and Oscar de la Renta brings an important new layer of expertise to True Religion’s senior leadership team.”

D’Arcy joins True Religion amid the brand’s transformation to a DTC, digital-first company. She has nearly 20 years’ marketing and ecommerce experience at fashion, specialty retail, and beauty brands as well as on the agency side of the business. She has had significant success in designing omni-channel, global brand marketing campaigns with influencers and celebrities which have driven business growth and consumer engagement.

“I’ve been a True Religion customer and have watched the brand reinvent itself in recent years, which has been exciting both as a consumer and marketer,” said D’Arcy. “I have so much admiration for the company’s recent collaborations with Supreme, 2Chainz, Chief Keef, Dreezy, and many others. The opportunity to work with this team to expand the brand even further is a dream come true.”

D’Arcy has received numerous industry accolades and was cited as one of AdAge magazine’s Best Marketers Under 40. She began her career on the agency side of business and worked on major accounts for Tribal DDB Worldwide and R/GA. Her first brand-side role was as Senior Director of Marketing for Ralph Lauren. She was then named Senior Vice President of Ecommerce and Digital Media at Oscar de la Renta before joining Coty Inc., where she rose to become Global Head of Content and Innovation. She joined American Eagle Outfitters, leaving as Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Media to become Chief Marketing Officer for Pacific Sunwear. She most recently served as CMO for Homedics, where she increased the health and wellness company’s DTC sales by 80%.

Silver Jeans Co. Announced Suzanne Silverstein New CEO

Western Glove Works, parent company to Silver Jeans Co.™ and JAG® Jeans, announced a new CEO, Suzanne Silverstein.

Silverstein will serve as CEO of both Silver Jeans Co. and JAG Jeans and will take the reins from former CEO and founder, Michael Silver, on July 10. Michael Silver will join the newly formed advisory board of directors for the company.

“I am thrilled to join the Silver Jeans and JAG team,” Silverstein said. “There is an incredible brand story, a seasoned and talented team, and most important to me, there is a passion for perfection with product. It’s a winning combination and I am very excited about the future of the brands.”

Silverstein joins the company from her most recent role as group president of NYC Alliance. She served as president for the JS Group as well, overseeing brands such as Halston, ML Monique Lhuillier, and Amur. Additionally, she was president of both the 7 For All Mankind denim brand and Parker New York. Silverstein also has a strong retail background, with 13 years at Saks Incorporated, including 7 years at Saks Fifth Avenue leaving as the VP DMM overseeing Contemporary Sportswear, including premium denim.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Suzanne Silverstein to our ‘family of friends’ as the new CEO of Silver Jeans Co. and JAG Jeans,” said Michael Silver. “She brings an enormous wealth of experience and success in her career that I am certain will enhance the brands in their growth and prosperity for the future.”

Bally Announced Roy Wang Global Brand Ambassador

Bally announced the appointment of Roy Wang, Chinese singer-songwriter, actor, and presenter as its new Global Brand Ambassador. Wang’s role will cement the Swiss luxury brand’s reverence for art and culture, while his Gen Z fanbase and strong personal style will reinforce Bally’s multi-generational appeal.

Wang will be the face of Bally’s Fall/Winter 2023 seasonal campaign and join regional festivity campaigns such as Chinese Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year. The Fall/Winter 2023 campaign celebrates a contemporary take on Swiss luxury and was photographed in Switzerland where Wang was also able to visit the brand’s Villa Heleneum, home to its Bally Foundation for art and culture.

With a combined social media following of nearly 100 million followers, Wang’s popularity across China will build upon Bally’s robust presence of 60 stores on the Mainland, and a digital ecosystem including Bally.cn, Bally WeChat Mini-Program, Tmall Luxury Pavilion, and JD.com.

“We are thrilled to have Roy Wang join us as Bally’s new Global Brand Ambassador. The versatility of his multidisciplinary career, coupled with his social engagement and modern sense of style, perfectly match with Bally’s pioneering spirit and values.” – Nicolas Girotto, Bally CEO

“It’s a great honor to be chosen as Bally’s Global Brand Ambassador. A brand with such a rich history that combines heritage and innovation to uniquely represent Swiss luxury.” – Roy Wang

Halara Announced Gabby Hirata Global Brand President

Halara, the Athleisure Brand, announced Gabby Hirata as Global Brand President.

Hirata was most recently President & CEO of Diane von Furstenberg (DVF). Prior to that, Hirata held roles at Jill Stuart International, Adeam International and Ralph Lauren.

Hirata will be responsible for elevating Halara’s brand identity, leveraging production technology and innovation, and introducing nationwide offline brand activations.

“I’m profoundly grateful for the chance to be part of such a fast-growing startup like Halara and to engage in a marketplace of this magnitude.” – Gabby Hirata

Joyce Zhang, CEO and founder of Halara, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Gabby Hirata to the Halara family. Her in-depth knowledge of the international fashion industry and her passion for packing value propositions from quality textiles to flattering designs into well-priced products make her the perfect fit for Halara. We are confident that Gabby’s industry expertise and thoughtful leadership style will enable us to continue pushing boundaries and cement our position not only as a trusted activewear brand for customers but also as a global magnet for top talent.”

Anita Tillmann, Founder of The Premium Group, Steps Down

The Premium Group, the leading European event and trade fair organiser for fashion and lifestyle, announced that founder Anita Tillmann is stepping down. After almost 21 years, Tillmann will retire from operating business at the end of this year. She will remain as a strategic advisor.

“After more than two decades, I am stepping down from the operational business and handing over the company to my business partner Jörg Arntz and the experienced management team with great confidence and trust,” says Anita Tillmann. “Together with our team, we have built up an international network in the fashion industry and made many good friends along the way. Thanks to our flat hierarchies, the pronounced team spirit and the good relationship with our shareholders, we work according to the motto – teamwork makes the dream work.”

Jörg Arntz, will continue to lead the company as managing director, with the strategic support of Anita Tillmann. Operational implementation and content development will continue with the proven Premium and Seek teams in line with the formats. “I am delighted to have had Anita by my side over the past 10 years. The goal remains to strengthen the Premium Group’s position as a forward-thinking and established platform in the national and international markets. We challenge traditional KPIs, develop sustainable business models hand-in-hand with the industry and share this know-how with our communities. We will continue to drive innovation and growth in close exchange with the industry. The demand for an organised industry meeting in Berlin is still very high. We are firmly convinced that the relevance of personal exchange will become even more important in the future and with it modern platforms like Premium and Seek.”

“We would like to extend our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Anita for the passion, creativity and vision that she has brought to Premium over the years. Due to the ongoing friendship and cooperation, together with the ability and experience of Jorg and wider team, we have full confidence that the business is in good hands, both now and in the future.” – Lisa Hannant, CEO of Clarion Events, the parent company of the Premium Group.

Fiorucci Announced Alessandro Pisani CEO and a Return to Italy

Fiorucci announced the brand’s official return to Italy, marking an exciting new chapter in the brand’s storied history. Under the leadership of newly appointed CEO,​ Alessandro Pisani, and Creative Director, Francesca Murri, the brand will now undergo a process of creative reconstruction based in its original home of Milan and launch a new collection during Milan Fashion Week this September.

Mr. Pisani commented: “Fiorucci is one of the greatest protagonists in the history of Italian fashion. Its founder Elio Fiorucci ignited a positive cultural disruption that democratized style across the world and became entwined with progressive popular art forms from visual arts to music. Our mission now is to revive that uniquely playful attitude and reshape its disruptive heritage in order to inspire a new generation”.

That task has been entrusted to Francesca Murri, a designer whose experience spans Versace, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Givenchy and Ferragamo. Murri’s first collection for Fiorucci will be shown at Milan Fashion Week this September.

As part of this new chapter for the brand, Fiorucci announced that it has been acquired by Dona Bertarelli. Born in Rome, Dona Bertarelli is a Swiss investor, sportswoman and philanthropist, advocating for ocean protection, gender equality and inclusion. Now, with new ownership and management, who will accompany the brand on the next stage of its journey, the revolutionary spirit of Fiorucci has been returned to its original home.

The visionary Elio Fiorucci opened his store in Milan’s Galleria Passarella in 1967 after being inspired to import the counter-cultural retail innovation of London’s Carnaby Street to his home city. After refining his model and beginning the production of his own collections, Fiorucci exported his concept to New York in 1976. Famously called the “daytime Studio 54”, Fiorucci hosted the offices of Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, was frequented by young emerging creatives including Keith Haring and Madonna and became a thriving cultural hub.

Starting with September’s presentation, the new custodians of Fiorucci will begin the process of renewing Italian fashion’s greatest force for positive disruption.