Cole Haan appointed West Elm President James “Jim” Brett to its board of directors last week. Brett, known for his design-driven merchandising, sourcing and cross-channel brand building, brings valuable experience in retail lifestyle brands to Cole Haan as it vies to expand categories beyond accessories and footwear.
Under Brett’s guidance, West Elm has experienced 23 consecutive quarters of double-digit comparable brand revenue growth. He has also served as Urban Outfitters’ chief merchandising officer and as merchandising manager for Anthropologie, where he developed his passion for global craft, travel and brand identity. He was responsible for creating the merchandising mix that is Anthropologie Home today.
“We are delighted to have Jim join Cole Haan. His experience in driving global vertical retail brands will be invaluable for the Cole Haan team as we continue to open new markets and build stores overseas and domestically,” said Jack Boys, CEO of Cole Haan.