Former Balenciaga Executive to Lead U.S. Retail Expansion from New York Office
Akris has appointed Bonnie Abraham as Chief Executive Officer of the Americas, continuing its efforts to expand retail operations in the region. Abraham previously served as Senior Vice President of Retail for the Americas at Balenciaga.
Her arrival comes as the Swiss fashion house plans to expand its U.S. footprint, including the opening of a new flagship on Madison Avenue and additional concessions. A recent store opening in Chicago brought the brand’s total number of U.S. locations to nine.
“I am honored to join a brand so deeply rooted in innovation and craftsmanship as Akris. I look forward to exploring and expanding the retail and marketing footprint of this storied Swiss fashion house,” Abraham said.
Her background includes senior roles in merchandising and wholesale at prominent brands such as Chanel, Valentino, Burberry, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, and Gucci. According to Akris, her “deep understanding and experience in retail, merchandising and wholesale will be instrumental as Akris continues to evolve its omnichannel strategy for the Americas.”
Based in New York, Abraham will report to Melissa Beste, global CEO of Akris. She succeeds Jimmy Yeh, who departed earlier this year after a short tenure. Peter Herink, Yeh’s predecessor, held the post for ten years.
Akris, established in 1922 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, has showcased its collections at Paris Fashion Week since 2004 under the creative direction of Albert Kriemler. The company is known for its proprietary fabrics, including double-face cashmere and digitally printed textiles.
In addition to its U.S. presence, Akris operates 11 boutiques across Europe and Asia, along with subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, and the United States. The brand also maintains around 300 additional sales points through concessions and wholesale agreements.