The Promotion Comes Alongside Several Other Internal Leadership Changes Within the Company
Anne Walsh, presently serving as the senior vice president of merchandising for North American Retail at Michael Kors, has been promoted to president of Michael Kors North America Retail, effective April 1st.
Michael Kors CEO Cedric Wilmotte also announced the departure of Jaryn Bloom, the previous group president of North America Retail, who has chosen to leave the organization after 18 years with the brand. Wilmotte praised Bloom’s contributions, acknowledging his role in expanding the global retail and e-commerce businesses of Michael Kors.
“Jaryn has been a key member of the Michael Kors executive team and is credited with developing and scaling our multibillion-dollar global retail and e-commerce businesses and positioning Michael Kors as a major omnichannel player in the fashion space,” said Wilmotte. “Jaryn has made significant contributions to our organization, built strong teams and leaves a legacy founded on passion, dedication and resilience.”
Bloom will aid in the transition process over the next few months and remain available for support until June.
Furthermore, Debra Margles, the current president of Michael Kors Canada, has decided to depart from the company at the end of March after nearly two decades of service. Wilmotte commended Margles for her role in establishing the brand in Canada and her impactful leadership qualities.
“Both Jaryn and Debra have been an instrumental part of the business and will be greatly missed,” Wilmotte expressed.
Walsh, who has been with Michael Kors for 11 years, has been instrumental in the growth of the brand’s U.S. retail business and has led retail merchandising strategies across all channels. Expressing confidence in Walsh’s abilities, Wilmotte stated, “I am confident that Anne’s drive, enthusiasm and deep understanding of our business will allow us to continue to drive our retail strategy forward.”
Walsh expressed her excitement about her new role, acknowledging the legacy left by Bloom and Margles. “This is a pivotal time in our company’s history, and I look forward to working closely with Cedric, Michael and the teams to continue to bring Michael’s vision to life and further drive our business into the future,” she said.