Gap Inc.
Jeff Kirwan, chief executive officer and president of Gap brand, is exiting the company. During his tenure, Kirwan and his team built Gap brand’s operating model, boosted store traffic and fostered consumer engagement initiatives. While the company conducts a search for Kirwan’s replacement, Brent Hyder, Gap Inc.’s executive vice president of global talent and sustainability, will oversee the Gap brand. Prior to his current role, Hyder held several leadership roles at Gap Inc., including chief operating officer of the Gap brand and vice president and general manager of Gap Japan.
Li & Fung
Supply chain leader Li & Fung named Valerie Lavion as its new executive director. In her new role, Lavion will lead Li & Fung’s children’s wear platform and department stores in North America and build Li & Fung’s innovation strategy across its business divisions. Lavion joins Li & Fung with nearly 20 years of retail experience and has held various leadership roles at many U.S. department stores, including Kohl’s and Sears.
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren tapped Michael Rider as its new senior vice president and creative director of its women’s polo business. In his new role, Rider will help the Polo line focus on more corporate and business casual styles. Rider joins Ralph Lauren after a nine-year tenure at Céline.
LVMH
LVMH appointed Serge Brunschwig as the new chief executive and chairman of Fendi. In his new role, Brunschwig will report to Toni Belloni, who currently serves as LVMH’s group managing director. Brunschwig will succeed Pietro Beccari, who will become chief executive and chairman of LVMH’s Christian Dior arm.
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House of Fraser
House of Fraser announced leadership changes, as part of its ongoing turnaround strategy.
Maria Hollins, House of Fraser’s executive director for buying and design, is stepping down from her role. Hollins worked at House of Fraser for nearly two years, following a five-year stint at Asos. Hollins did not confirm her next move. House of Fraser said it will announce Hollins’ replacement soon.
David Walker-Smith, who previously served as managing director of Fenwick’s Bond Street store, will become the company’s new chief product and trading officer. Simon Pickering, Reiss’s chief digital officer, is joining House of Fraser as buying and merchandising director for accessories and apparel.
House of Fraser retail director Gary Slattery was promoted to the role of executive director for retail, and transformation director Gary Monk will become the executive director for operations.
House of Fraser’s chief operating officer Peter Gross and chief information officer Julian Burnett resigned from their roles as part of the executive changes.
Harvey Nichols
Anita Barr, Harvey Nichols’ group fashion buying director, stepped down from her post to pursue new career opportunities. Barr joined Harvey Nichols in 2014, after she served as global product director at AllSaints. Harvey Nichols is conducting a search for Barr’s replacement.
Smartrac
Smartrac, an RFID and IoT solutions provider, appointed Dinesh Dhamija as chief technology officer and member of the company’s management board. Dhamija, who has more than 30 years of technology experience, served as a tenured associate professor of engineering & technology at Ohio University. Most recently, he founded Step 2 Solutions, a company that helps consumers develop commercial solutions.
Gucci
Gucci is restructuring its leadership due to the departure of chief consumer officer and executive vice president Micaela Le Divelec.
Starting Mar. 1, Gucci will reorganize its business around four pillars: merchandising and global markets led by Jacopo Venturini; indirect channels, outlet and travel retail headed up by Piero Braga; brand & customer engagement managed by Robert Triefus, and digital business and innovation headed up by Nicolas Oudinot.
J.Crew
J.Crew Group named Adam Brotman as its new chief experience officer and president, effective in March. Brotman joins J.Crew from Starbucks, where he served as executive vice president of global retail operations.
QVC
QVC, Inc. announced that chief financial officer Ted Jastrzebski is stepping down from his role, effective May 17. As part of this transition, Mark Carleton will continue to serve as the chief financial officer of Liberty Interactive Corp., the parent company of QVC. QVC is conducting a search for Jastrzebski’s successor.
Clique
Clique, a digital and consumer brands company, appointed Marc Rothschild as chief operating officer and president. In his new role, Rothschild will oversee the business strategy of Clique’s various apparel and footwear lines, including Who What Wear, which is sold exclusively at Target. Rothschild joins Clique from Meredith Digital, where he served as senior vice president and headed up digital revenue efforts.