Industry Moves: Nike Veteran Cristiano Fagnani to New Guards Group, Cole Haan Nabs Adidas Exec + More

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June 17, 2020: Nike veteran Cristiano Fagnani is joining New Guards Group as chief marketing officer. Fagnani has a 20 year history in in marketing and communication at Nike for Italy and the EMEA region, as well as in the U.S. supervising collaborations, influencer marketing and brand experience through the Energy Marketing Team. Relocating to Italy, he and will lead the marketing team across all the group’s brands which include: Off-White (NGG is the label’s licensee), Palm Angels, Ambush, Marcelo Burlon County of Milan, Heron Preston and Opening Ceremony. Digital platform Farfetch bought New Guards Group last August, for $675 million.

June 16, 2020: Cole Haan Inc. today announced the appointment of Andrew Rudolph as senior vice president, North American wholesale sales. Since 1995, Rudolph had worked at Adidas Group, where he most recently served as vice president of U.S. wholesale sales. Rudolph will join the Cole Haan corporate leadership team effective immediately.

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June 16, 2020: Kering has announced that Emma Watson is joining its Board of Directors, alongside Jean Liu and Tidjane Thiam. Their appointments have been approved by Kering’s shareholders during the group’s annual general meeting, as proposed by the board of directors in March 2020. Watson has been appointed chair of the sustainability committee of the board of directors, while Thiam has been appointed chair of the audit committee. “Their respective knowledge and competence, the multiplicity of their backgrounds and perspectives will be invaluable additions to the reflections of Kering’s Board of Directors,” said François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering. “The collective intelligence that comes from the diversity of point of views and the richness brought by different experiences are crucial to the future of our organization, and I am proud to add such impressive talents to the team,” he added.

June 16, 2020: LVMH executive Philippe Fortunato is to join Richemont as head of fashion and accessories houses. These include Chloé, Dunhill, Alaïa and golf and luxury performance brand Peter Millar. Richemont is also involved in a joint venture with former Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz called as AZfashion. Fortunato was most recently chief executive officer of Givenchy where he spent six years. He comes with an extensive pedigree. Prior to Givenchy, he was president and CEO of the North Asia region of Louis Vuitton, and before that managing director of Fendi. He has and worked for Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton in China.

June 15, 2020: Matthew M. Williams is Givenchy’s new creative director. The designer behind the 1017 Alyx label made the announcement in typically offbeat style via a voice note on the house’s Instagram account. “I want to say how honored I am to be taking on the role of creative director of G, it’s been my lifelong dream to be in this position and it’s really surreal that’s its finally here i’ve worked every day for 15 years towards this single goal,” he said. “At the same time it’s bitter sweet because we’re living in unprecedented times in the world and I just hope in some way I can bring hope with my community and colleagues create positive change for our industry and the world and I’d like to use this platform to do so.” He will commence his role on June 16 and is expected to present his first designs for Givenchy in October.

June 15, 2020: Galeries Lafayette has named Guillaume Gellusseau as its chief marketing and communications officer. According to FN’s sister publication WWD, the executive will spearhead marketing efforts for the group’s namesake department store chain and the BHV Marais. Gellusseau previously served as a general manager at Shiseido, in marketing roles at the Bon Marché and Baccarat, as well as various positions at Lancôme.

June 12, 2020: Reformation founder and CEO Yael Aflalo is stepping down, according to Business of Fashion. The executive, whose departure is effective immediately, has been replaced by president Hali Borenstein. Her exit comes a week after a former general manager at Reformation had put forth allegations of racism at the company. Days later, Aflalo issued an apology through the retailer’s Instagram account, writing, “I’ve failed… Unfortunately, the way we have practiced diversity in the past has been through a ‘white gaze’ that falls to close to ignorance.” FN has reached out to Reformation for comment.

June 12, 2020: Richemont‘s human resources director has exited the company’s senior executive committee. In a statement, the luxury goods group announced that Sophie Guieysse is stepping down immediately and will not stand for reelection to the board of directors at its annual general meeting set for Sept. 9. No reason was given for the departure.

June 11, 2020: J.Jill has appointed Shelley Milano to its board of directors, effective immediately. The new addition currently serves as EVP and chief HR officer for Victoria’s Secret parent L Brands. She previously worked in executive leadership positions at Eddie Bauer, Starbucks and Honda. “Shelley is an established industry leader with impeccable credentials,” said J.Jill chairman Michael Rahamim, “and she perfectly complements the skills and expertise of our current board.”

June 10, 2020: As reported by FN’s sister publication WWD, Hunter CEO Vincent Wauters will leave his post July 31 to pursue new opportunities. Wauters joined Hunter in 2016 after serving as president of Canadian outdoor company Arc’teryx. While a search for a new CEO is underway, former Jimmy Choo SVP of merchandising and licensing Paolo Porta will assume Wauters’ responsibilities.

June 10, 2020: Cat Footwear has appointed Kelly Ballou as its VP of marketing. She has worked for Wolverine World Wide Inc. and its brands for more than 17 years in several roles, most recently as the senior director of brand marketing at Merrell. In her new role, Ballou will report to newly-named Cat Footwear global brand president Chip Coe, who assumed the role last month. Before Wolverine, Ballou was an account executive for a strategic brand communications agency and a marketing manager for the office furniture company Steelcase.

June 9, 2020: Merrell has appointed Janice Tennant as its chief marketing officer. Tennant, who most recently held the same role at Cat Footwear, has been tasked with leading Merrell’s global marketing efforts which includes executing strategies to advance the its pro-outdoor purpose. She will report directly to Merrell global brand president Chris Hufnagel and also join its senior leadership team. Prior to Merrell, Tennant held director of marketing roles at Kimberly-Clark and PepsiCo.

June 9, 2020: Nina Fuhrman has been appointed chief merchant for JustFab and ShoeDazzle, TechStyle Fashion Group announced. Fuhrman will oversee design and product strategy for both brands. A veteran of fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and J.Crew, Fuhrman most recently served as FabFitFun Style vice president and general manager.

June 9, 2020: HanesBrands has appointed Stephen Bratspies as CEO and board member, effective Aug. 3, 2020. Bratspies, who most recently served as chief merchandising officer for Walmart, will succeed Gerald Evans Jr. in the chief spot. Evans, who had previously announced his retirement, will oversee the transition until August and will remain as a HanesBrands adviser through 2021.

June 5, 2020: Mattheiu Blazy has joined Bottega Veneta in a senior design role, learned FN’s sister publication WWD. The new hire — who reportedly started at the post several weeks ago and reports to creative director Daniel Lee — formerly served as the design director of Calvin Klein 205W39NYC under Raf Simons. Prior to two and a half years at the American label, Blazy worked at Celine under then-creative director Phoebe Philo and at Maison Margiela.

June 4, 2020: After pausing operations in March due to the pandemic, Wigwam Mills Inc., based in Sheboygan, Wisc., has reopened its factory. Additionally, leadership of the 115-year-old, family-owned sock company has shifted to fourth-generation siblings Chris Chesebro and Margaret Newhard, who have worked at Wigwam for over a decade. They will take joint control as general managers of operations and administration, respectively.

June 1, 2020: Daniel Grieder has stepped down as CEO of Tommy Hilfiger Global and PVH Europe. He is succeeded by Martijn Hagman, chief operating officer of Tommy Hilfiger Global and PHV Europe and chief financial officer of Tommy Hilfiger Global. Under Grieder’s tenure the brand has embraced digitization, 3-D product design and opened an Amsterdam campus and product innovation center. Grieder, who joined the business in 2004 is “looking for something more entrepreneurial where i can invest,” he said.

June 1, 2020: Reliable of Milwaukee has named two VPs to its Muk Luks team. Ilene Feldman has been named VP of footwear, a new position, overseeing global sales and merchandising activities for all channels and platforms. Prior to this, she served as senior account executive with Diba Shoes. The brand has also appointed Kristina Tobolic VP of slippers, socks, and accessories, responsible for global sales and merchandising activities across all channels and platforms for its heritage categories. The industry veteran most recently served as VP/DMM, women’s apparel at Kohl’s.

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