Armelle Poulou appointed Chief Financial Officer of Kering
Kering announced the appointment of Armelle Poulou as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1, 2023.
Armelle Poulou joined the Group in 2019 and is currently Director of Corporate Finance, Treasury and Insurance.
She will continue reporting to Jean-Marc Duplaix, now Deputy CEO, in charge of Operations and Finance.
A graduate of HEC Business School in 1993, Armelle Poulou successively held a range of positions in France and worldwide, several financial functions at Procter & Gamble, Hewlett-Packard and EDF, before joining Kering in 2019 where she manages the Corporate Finance, Treasury and Insurance teams.
John Lewis Announced Andreas Nicolaides Senior Marketer
John Lewis has made a key appointment to lead its new customer planning team. Andreas Nicolaides will join the business in October as Head of Customer Planning & Channels.
Andreas remit will include modernising and optimising John Lewis’s marketing across stores and online in a way which deepens relationships with its customers. The role will also optimise the use of marketing assets to deliver commercial value for the business.
Andreas has a strong record as a performance marketing specialist and brings a wealth of experience across a range of high-profile brands. He was Group Marketing Director and more recently moved into a General Manager role for N Brown – a top 10 UK Clothing and Footwear Digital Retailer, with a developing homeware range. During his tenure, he led a team of marketing professionals and had total responsibility for trading and commercial performance.
He began his career in MoneySuperMarket, where he spent 5 years looking after search marketing and content channels. His extensive agency experience, including at Carat, has involved driving performance marketing for a wide range of household names including Thomas Cook, Arcadia Group, Monsoon and Fragrance Direct.
Charlotte Lock, John Lewis Partnership’s Customer Director, said; “Andreas brings a wealth of experience as a data driven media and marketing specialist across a very wide portfolio of successful brands. John Lewis already has huge loyalty from our customers and we are delighted that Andreas will be driving forward our marketing planning to deepen this relationship even further.”
Tamara Mellon Enters Partnership With Titan Industries
Luxury footwear brand Tamara Mellon has announced a merger with Titan Industries Inc., the American women’s footwear specialist, that will see Tamara Mellon collections available through wholesale channels for the first time since its launch in 2016. The partnership also sees Titan Industries overseeing the manufacturing of the collections, as well as managing its DTC channels. Tamara Mellon, Founder and Creative Director of her namesake brand, will remain at the helm of the company, and continue to lead all aspects of creative and design.
Tamara Mellon: “I am delighted to partner with Titan Industries as we enter a new chapter for the brand. When I started the company in 2016, I wanted to focus on DTC only, but as we have grown, both here in the US and internationally, we see an opportunity in being able to service those clients with more ease through key wholesale channels both in physical and online stores. I am excited to see where this next phase of growth will take us.”
Titan Industries has a large network of expert shoemakers and manufactures in Spain which is where the Tamara Mellon collections will now be produced, with prices ranging from $395 to $1,000 for select boot styles. The new expanded distribution through wholesale will begin for Spring / Summer 2024, and will see Tamara Mellon reaching more customers globally.
Joe Ouaknine, Founder of Titan Industries Inc. “To have the chance to partner with an icon such as Tamara is entirely unique. Her creativity and elegance have resonated with customers for over twenty years, and her passion and enthusiasm knows no bounds. I am excited to share this news and for our association to take off.”
Authentic Brands Group Secures the Future of Rockport
Authentic Brands Group announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved the sale transaction of Rockport, a renowned footwear brand. The addition of Rockport expands Authentic’s diverse footwear portfolio with a trusted brand, committed to comfort and technical product innovation.
Rockport has long been recognized as a pioneer in the footwear industry credited as one of the first brands to engineer athletic soles into its dress shoes. With Rockport, Authentic is poised to leverage its expertise in brand development and strategic partnerships to propel the Rockport brand into new heights and unlock its full potential.
Jamie Salter, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Authentic, said, “Rockport’s core consumer is more active than ever. The brand’s offering is a perfect addition to our portfolio with opportunities for category expansion into apparel, accessories, outerwear, travel and more.” Salter added, “There is a significant addressable market, presenting opportunities for the brand to evolve into a full lifestyle offering with a focus on innovation and comfort.”
In addition, Authentic has signed a long-term licensing agreement with key partner Marc Fisher Footwear, a leading full-service fashion footwear company and the US footwear partner for Authentic-owned Nine West, Hunter Boots and Bandolino. Marc Fisher will become the core footwear partner for Rockport in the US, taking on the brand’s footwear design, wholesale and e-commerce operations in the territory.
“We are excited to partner with Authentic on Rockport, a brand with great consumer equity,” said Marc Fisher, CEO of Marc Fisher Footwear. “Rockport’s strong connection to its core consumer presents compelling growth opportunities within the men’s footwear market and, we look forward to continuing to build upon its foundation with Authentic.”
Upon next month’s closing of Rockport and Boardriders, Authentic’s portfolio will generate more than $29B in annual retail sales worldwide.
Candice Cuoco Appointed as New Creative Director of Frederick’s of Hollywood
Iconic American lingerie brand, Frederick’s of Hollywood, announced the appointment of visionary fashion designer and celebrity stylist Candice Cuoco as the brand’s new Creative Director. Cuoco will oversee the brand’s creative direction and product design, focusing on modern lingerie. Collections that embrace Frederick’s of Hollywood’s storied past with fresh designs to captivate the modern customer. Her extensive knowledge of fashion and cultural trends as well as her ability to translate trends to products, will elevate the brand’s product offering.
Cuoco’s success in the fashion industry spans over two decades, during which she has worked with some of the most influential names in the industry, such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat. Candice’s unique flare for creativity, passion and attention to detail has earned her credibility as a visionary designer. Her work has been shown at New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks, featured in the pages of major fashion magazines and turned heads with a sold-out collection at London’s iconic Selfridges department store. She was hand-selected to compete on Bravo’s Project Runway, culminating as a finalist and was invited back for Project Runway All-Stars. The San Francisco Fashion Awards have honored Candice as “Designer of the Year,” “Best Emerging Designer” and “Most Stylish.”
“I am honored to be part of such an iconic brand that is steeped in the power of women,” said Candice Cuoco. “Frederick’s of Hollywood has a rich history of celebrating sensuality and self-expression and I am eager to build upon that foundation to create a bold and inclusive vision for the future.”
Her first fully designed collection will debut in Fall 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome Candice Cuoco to the Frederick’s of Hollywood family as our new Creative Director,” said Christina Martin Pieper, Executive Vice President, Lifestyle at Authentic Brands Group, owner of Frederick’s of Hollywood. “Candice’s exceptional influence and creative vision align perfectly with our brand’s DNA. Her unique perspective will resonate with our customers and will continue to build on its iconic history.”
Fourtané Announced Russell Kelly as Chief Operations Officer
With over 20 years of experience in top posts within the luxury watch industry, Russell Kelly has been namedchief operations officer for Fourtané, effective immediately.
“Very excited to announce my new position as Chief Operating Officer at Fourtané in Carmel-by-the-Sea. So happy to be working with a great family and the absolute best brands in watches and jewelry today. I’m most excited to be working directly with our team and our clients every day, and delivering the absolute best experience we can,” stated Russell Kelly.
“We are thrilled to have Russell join the Fourtané team at this crucial moment when our business is poised for significant growth,” said Josh Bonifas. “His unmatched expertise in brand experience and his success in leading teams across digital and commercial operations will prove to be invaluable for Fourtané as we continue to deliver the best service and experience we can for our visitors.”