The former Tiffany & Co. executive succeeds Laurent Claquin in a key leadership role
French luxury group Kering has appointed Ewa Abrams as President of its Americas division. She replaces Laurent Claquin, who was named Chief Brand Officer at the group level last month.
Abrams, who has been with Kering since 2018 as general counsel, brings 17 years of experience from her tenure at Tiffany & Co. She will now report directly to deputy CEO Jean-Marc Duplaix.
In addition to her role as General Counsel, Abrams serves on the Board of the Kering Foundation in the Americas and co-chairs the Women In Luxury Americas internal program. At Tiffany & Co., she held the position of Vice President – Associate General Counsel, Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer. She has also been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University since 2016. Abrams is a graduate of Bucknell University and earned her Doctor of Law (JD) from Brooklyn Law School.
In a recent company statement, Kering conveyed, “Her experience within the group and her extensive knowledge of the luxury industry will be key to support Kering’s strategy and development in the region.”
Kering’s Americas division has been pivotal in the group’s recovery, with sales surging in the region following the coronavirus pandemic. This growth has led the company to expand its presence in emerging shopping destinations like Miami and Nashville. The group, which includes top brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta, reported approximately €4.5 billion ($4.9 billion) in sales in the Americas last year, compared to €3 billion in 2019.
However, group revenues fell 10 percent in the first quarter, increasing the urgency for Kering to accelerate the turnaround of its flagship label Gucci after several years of stagnant sales.