Longtime sales executive steps into newly defined leadership role
Key Takeaways:
- Michele Cohen named President of Gabriela Hearst, effective January 15, 2026
- Role reflects the brand’s commercial momentum and global expansion plans
- Cohen joined in 2015 and has helped shape the label’s strategic evolution over the past decade
Gabriela Hearst has appointed Michele Cohen as President, formalizing a leadership structure that reinforces the house’s ambitions for global expansion while staying rooted in its founding values. The new role underscores a phase of strategic scaling, with Cohen set to oversee the label’s commercial strategy across wholesale, retail, and e-commerce.
Cohen’s appointment follows a decade-long tenure with the brand, during which she served as Global Head of Sales. Since joining in 2015, she has played a foundational role in shaping Gabriela Hearst’s growth, bringing operational rigor to a label best known for its uncompromising commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and long-term thinking.
The move signals continuity as much as evolution. As Gabriela Hearst looks to expand across markets and categories, Cohen steps into the presidency with deep institutional knowledge and a leadership style shaped by proximity to the brand’s founder. Her promotion suggests a doubling down on value-led growth—scaling with intention rather than speed, and preserving the house’s principles as it broadens its reach.
In a shifting fashion landscape increasingly defined by short-termism, Gabriela Hearst’s move stands out: reinforcing from within, protecting identity, and preparing for growth that’s both meaningful and measured.