Columbia Sportswear
Columbia Sportswear is furthering its leadership expansion initiatives.
The active apparel retailer appointed Jim Swanson as its new SVP and CFO and named Peter Rauch as its new SVP and chief transformation officer.
Since 2003, Swanson has held several financial leadership positions at the company, including senior global financial analyst, finance manager, director of strategic and financial planning and VP of finance. He will succeed Tom Cusick, who was promoted to the role of EVP and COO, effective July 1.
Rauch recently served as Columbia Sportswear’s VP and chief accounting officer. Over the past nine years, Rauch has held several leadership roles at the company, including retail accounting manager, director of retail accounting, senior financial controller-EMEA and CFO of Columbia Sportswear’s joint venture in China.
Stitch Fix
Stitch Fix tapped former Elle accessories director Maria Dueñas Jacobs as its new director of brand development. In her new role, Dueñas Jacobs will oversee the company’s brand development, special projects and fashion media relations.
Walmart
Along with its acquisition of Bonobos, Walmart tapped Bonobos founder and CEO Andy Dunn to helm the company’s portfolio of digital brands. In his new role, Dunn will oversee the creation of new products, while leading Walmart’s e-commerce strategic initiatives. He will report to Marc Lore, CEO and president of Walmart U.S. E-Commerce.
Hunter
Hunter is changing up its executive ranks.
Sallie Scripter was hired as the new EVP of the Americas. Her resume includes previous stints at Jones Group, LVMH and Marc Jacobs.
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Tracy Solomon was appointed as the brand’s new customer engagement officer. In her new role, Solomon will strengthen consumer communications across e-commerce, retail and digital marketing. She joins Hunter from Uniqlo, where she recently served as the brand’s customer experience director.
Chief commercial officer Wendy Svarre is exiting the company at the end of June, and CEO Vincent Wauters will be assuming Svarre’s role until a replacement is found.
After serving as design director for four years, Niall Sloan is also leaving the company.
Burberry
Burberry named Leonie Brantberg as its new head of strategy. Brantberg previously served as an associate partner at McKinsey & Company, where she co-helmed the company’s clothing, fashion ad luxury goods divisions.
Sears
After axing 400 corporate jobs on Tuesday, Sears is losing more members of its executive team.
Sears Holding Corp. president of online operations Stephan Zoll exited the company on Thursday.
David Pastrana, president of apparel, and SVP of Sears’ Shop Your Way program Eric Jaffe are also leaving their posts.
Escada
Escada tapped Hunter executive Niall Sloan as its new global design director, effective August 1. Sloan recently served as Hunter’s design director. Prior to his tenure at Hunter, Sloan served as an executive at Burberry for a decade.
Quiz
Quiz, a fast-fashion retailer in the UK, is building up its leadership team to compete with other market players, including Asos and Boohoo. The company tapped former JD Sports executive Peter Cowgill, who will serve as its new non-executive chairman.
HBC
After announcing several leadership changes last week, HBC is shaking up its board of directors. The retailer announced the results of its annual Board elections. Eleven board members were elected, including Richard A. Baker, Robert C. Baker, David G. Leith, William L. Mack, Lee Neibart, Denise Pickett, Wayne Pommen, Earl Rotman, Matthew Rubel, Gerald Storch and Andrea Wong.
Brioni
Nina-Maria Nitsche was hired as Brioni’s new creative director. Nitsche joins Brioni from Maison Martin Margiela, where she headed up the company’s creative division since 2009. She will succeed Justin O’Shea, who departed from the company in October.
New Look
New Look lost a few of its executives this week.
Menswear director Christopher Englinde and women’s accessories, beauty and footwear director Amanda Wain are departing from the fashion company. Englinde was tapped by menswear brand Ljung to be its interim managing director, while Wain is ending her four-year tenure to pursue other career opportunities.
Carrefour
Carrefour named Alexandre Bompard as its new CEO. In this role, Bompard will help build Carrefour’s digital presence. Bompard joins Carrefour from Fnac Darty, where he recently served as the company’s chief executive. He succeeds current chief executive Georges Plassat, who is stepping down from his role next month.
Milliken
Milliken hired Jennifer K. Harmon as its new VP of specialty interiors, performance & protective textiles division. Harmon previously served as the VP of design and interim VP of sales at True Textile, Inc. In her new role, she will oversee Milliken’s specialty interiors market growth, which spans the commercial and residential markets. Her resume includes previous stints at Tietex International and US Woven Labels.
Galvan
Galvan tapped fashion veteran Paul O’Regan as its new CEO. In his new role, O’Regan will oversee the British label’s global market initiatives and launch new product categories. O’Regan previously held leadership roles at other companies, including AllSaints, Burberry, Gucci Group and Oscar de la Renta. His predecessor, Katherine Holmgren, was named as Galvan’s new commercial director.
N Brown Group
After a five-year tenure as N Brown Group’s board chairman, Andrew Higginson is stepping down from his role to pursue other career opportunities. Ron McMillan, N Brown Group’s senior independent director, is currently searching for a new chairman. Higginson will remain as chairman until a replacement is found.
Dollar Tree
Michael A. Witynski was promoted to the role of COO and president of the Dollar Tree segment. In his new roles, Witynski will oversee merchandising, marketing and store operations for over 6,200 Dollar Tree locations in the U.S. Since joining the company in 2010, Witynski has held several leadership positions, including SVP of stores and COO.
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana appointed Fabrizio Cardinali as its new CEO and board member. Cardinali joins Dolce & Gabbana from Alfred Dunhill, where he recently served as the company’s chief executive. Prior to his tenure at Alfred Dunhill, Cardinali served as Dolce & Gabbana’s sales and marketing director.
Avon
Avon’s chief executive Shire McCoy is reportedly stepping down from her role. People familiar with the matter said that her departure details are not finalized, although McCoy is nearing a decision to retire from her role. Avon has not determined McCoy’s successor.