Bergdorf Goodman Elevates Two Women Leaders to Support Key Initiatives
Luxury retailer continues to invest in its online and in-store experience through its customer and brand strategies
Bergdorf Goodman announced the promotion of Cheryl Han to Senior Vice President of BergdorfGoodman.com & Customer Strategy. Additionally, Melissa Xides has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Bergdorf Goodman Stores and Brand Operations. In their new roles, both women will continue to drive the Company’s strategic vision to set the new standard in luxury.
Han joined the Company in September 2018 as a contractor and partnered with Darcy Penick, President of Bergdorf Goodman, to lead and establish the strategic growth plan for BergdorfGoodman.com. After leading the overhaul of the BG site experience and its first app in partnership with its tech organization, Han transitioned in-house as Vice President of Bergdorf Goodman Online (BGO) in February 2020. Han has been at the helm of BGO’s rapid growth and scaled the business and organization in the last 24 months building on its foundational strategic vision. In October 2020, Han took on an increased scope of responsibilities leading customer strategy. Under her leadership, the Company increased its investment and focused on customer strategies and customer relationship management, delivering strong results in the business.
Prior to joining BG, Han was the CEO and Founder of Keaton Row, which focused on delivering online personal styling services. Prior to this, she consulted with Neiman Marcus in crafting an early strategy framework for Neiman Marcus’ Digital Luxury Experience program. Han received her Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Xides joined the Company in July 2019 as Vice President of Customer Experience, leading the BG stores’ end-to-end responsibilities. She has since placed tremendous focus on attracting and retaining talent, evolving the store’s leadership structure and culture, investing in training and development to build authentic customer relationships, and embedding BG’s vision and high service standards into every touchpoint of the luxury customer experience. Melissa has provided steady and effective guidance through tremendous complexity during the pandemic, driven dynamic shifts in how we serve customers remotely and in person, while sustaining a clear and consistent vision for the stores. Melissa has also played a critical leadership role in BG’s Environmental, Social, Governance strategy.
Prior to joining the Company, she held a variety of executive leadership roles across stores, direct-to-consumer buying and retail for leading consumer brands, including SoulCycle, Tory Burch, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, and Gap. Xides received her undergraduate degree from Baruch College.
“I am incredibly proud of the work Cheryl and Melissa have done to build and develop talented teams, establish, and effectively deliver channel and customer strategies that are creating exciting momentum in the business. With their direction, I am confident that we will build upon our success as we continue to innovate on the luxury customer experience both online and in-store,” said Penick.
Bergdorf Goodman is part of the Neiman Marcus Group, which is a woman-co-founded and majority-women-led organization. Women represent the majority of its Board of Directors, over 50 percent of leaders vice president and above, and 68 percent of all corporate and store employees. In addition, over 50 percent of its 9,000 associates identify as minorities.
Valérie Lebérichel named Global Communications Director at Givenchy
Valérie Lebérichel has been named global vice president of communication at Givenchy.
Recruited from Miu Miu, where she was worldwide communications director since 2013 and in 2019 taking on the additional title of head of communications for Prada France. Valérie Lebérichel succeeds Youssef Marquis who left the label for Louis Vuitton. Both brands are controlled by French luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
At Givenchy, she reports to Renaud de Lesquen, president and CEO, who lauded Lebérichel as “a widely respected fashion professional” and a “natural fit for overseeing the many aspects of communication during this exciting period of development at the house.”
“I look forward to working with Renaud, Matthew M. Williams, and the whole team as the house continues to move into bold new fashion territory,” Lebérichel commented.
Carrie Baker appointed as President, Canada Goose
Canada Goose announced the appointment of Carrie Baker to President, Canada Goose, effectively immediately. The role will report to Dani Reiss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Goose.
This announcement enhances the executive structure to accelerate its next phase of global growth. Dani Reiss will continue to oversee all aspects of the business, operations and strategy – with a consolidation of commercial leadership and marketing under Carrie Baker.
“Carrie has played an instrumental role in making Canada Goose the business it is today. She is a dynamic leader and proven operator, and I am excited to partner with her in executing the Company’s bold vision,” said Dani Reiss, Chairman & CEO, Canada Goose. “This change in structure marks an important inflection point for Canada Goose, on our way to the next milestone.”
In her most recent role Carrie was responsible for accelerating the North American business, one of the Company’s fastest growing regions, achieving 36 per cent revenue growth in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022. A Company veteran, Carrie has been with Canada Goose for more than ten years, having also held positions of EVP, Chief of Staff, and Chief Communications Officer. Recognized as a strategic and collaborative leader through key stages of the company’s growth, Carrie has helped lead critical initiatives including the Company’s IPO and the development of its industry-leading Sustainable Impact Strategy.
“Seeing the company’s growth around the world and expansion into new categories over the last ten years, Canada Goose is truly a brand like no other,” says Carrie Baker, President, Canada Goose. “I am proud of the incredible brand momentum we’ve built over the last decade, and our proven success in establishing sustainable industry standards, but it’s only the beginning – I am truly excited to unlock the incredible opportunity ahead of us.”
Ana Mihaljevic will assume the dual role of President, North America and EVP, Sales Operations & Planning, expanding her operational leadership experience in Canada Goose’s most established commercial market. With almost two decades of experience, Ana has a strong track record of driving commercial performance and has played a pivotal role in establishing the Company’s insights, sales operations and planning functions as the Company has accelerated its direct-to-consumer business.
Sergio Azzolari Appointed CEO at Dsquared2
Dsquared2 announced that Sergio Azzolari is its new Chief Executive Officer. Sergio assumed his new role on April 1 as he joins the brand with the goal of driving Dsquared2’s growth and reinforcing its Omnichannel footprint with an increasingly global point-of-view.
Dsquared2’s new CEO has held major executive roles with Benetton, Missoni, Luxottica, Deckers and lately Tod’s Group across various geographies, having worked in Asia, the Americas and Europe over the last 30 years.
“We are very happy to welcome Sergio in our team, through his leadership we will make steady, strong strides together.” – Dean and Dan Caten
“Joining Dsquared2 for its next chapter is an exciting opportunity to leverage the brand’s panache and uniqueness and I look forward to seeing it rise into its full potential.” – Sergio Azzolari
Maria Cristina Lomanto to join Gucci as EVP, Brand General Manager
Maria Cristina Lomanto will join Gucci in a new role for the company as executive vice president, brand general manager. Currently with Roger Vivier, Maria Cristina Lomanto previously worked at Jil Sander, Yves Saint Laurent, the Prada Group, and Miu Miu.