Lululemon Athletica
Lululemon Athletica hired Rémi Paringaux as its new brand creative director. His appointment comes on the heels of Lee Holman’s announced departure. The EVP and creative director said he is exiting the company at the end of the year for personal reasons.
Topshop
Anthony Cuthbertson was appointed as the new global design director of Topshop, effective Jan. 2. Cuthbertson joins Topshop from Just Cavalli, where he recently served as the label’s design director. His resume also includes previous stints at Sass & Bride, Mulberry and Victoria Beckham. He will succeed Jacqui Markham, who assumed a consultancy role with Topshop earlier this year.
VF International
VF International announced senior leadership changes within its EMEA division.
Johan De Niel was promoted to VP of Wrangler EMEA. De Niel joined VF in 1981, and has held several leadership roles within the Lee brand—most recently as Lee’s VP of product and marketing.
Lee VP of sales Peter Kats was promoted to VP of Lee EMEA. Prior to joining Lee’s brand team least year, Kats served as VP of sales for Vans.
VF International also created two new leadership positions within the VF Jeanswear EMEA leadership team.
Daniel Larsson was appointed as senior sales director, VF Jeanswear, EMEA, a role that will bring together Lee and Wrangler brand teams in the region.
Johan Vercammen was also named as senior direct-to-consumer director, VF Jeanswear, EMEA and will oversee consumer experiences in store and online. Vercammen joined VF in 2010 and previously served as Kipling’s direct-to-consumer director.
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GSP
GSP hired retail veteran Margaret Sotrop as its new executive creative director. In her new role, Sotrop will manage the company’s campaign development and visual merchandising. Sotrop, who brings more than 25 years of industry experience, joins GSP from Kreber, where she served as the omnichannel retail marketing company’s VP creative. Before her tenure at Kreber, Sotrop was the VP of home and storewide creative at Macy’s.
Dunhill London
Dunhill London announced new management changes this week as part of its international growth efforts.
Mathieu Kraut was named as Dunhill London’s brand president for the Americas. In his new role, Kraut will build Dunhill London’s presence in the region by opening stores in key cities and developing wholesale partnerships. Kraut joins Dunhill London from Gucci, where he was responsible for the label’s specialty retail initiatives.
Georges Barakat was appointed as brand director for Dunhill London’s Africa, India, Middle East, Russia and Turkey markets. Barakat previously served as Samsung’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. In his new role, Barakat will be responsible for expanding Dunhill London’s presence in the Middle East and facilitating new business opportunities in these markets.
Fenwick
Fenwick is turning to new leadership outside of its founding family.
The U.K.-based department store tapped Argos commercial director Robbie Feather as its new CEO, effective January. In his new role, Feather will oversee Fenwick’s development strategy, including revamping the company’s Newcastle flagship store with advanced multichannel services. Since 2011, Feather has held various leadership roles at Argos and its parent company Sainsbury’s, including online director. His resume also includes previous stints at Asda and John Lewis. He will be succeeded by Sainsbury’s commercial director James Brown.
Brrr
Brrr appointed Julie Brown as its new head of global sales. In her new role, Brown will work with Brrr’s CEO Mary-Cathryn Kolb to focus the company’s global sales team on industry-specific verticals, including athletic apparel, business and casual office wear and medical clothing. Brown previously served as a project manager at First Performance, a payment processing firm. Prior to her tenure at First Performance, Brown founded Julie Bee’s, an eco-friendly footwear line, served as the director of operations for the Hult Prize Foundation, a global organization and worked at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Artemis
Patricia Barbizet, the CEO of billionare Pinault family’s investment arm Artemis, is exiting her role in January. As part of this transition, Barbizet will continue to serve as a Artemis board member, board VP at Kering, and focus on her own business. She will be succeeded by Kering chief executive Francois-Henri Pinault.
Artemis, who currently invests in Kering and Christie’s, is the latest luxury powerhouse to shift executives. Barbizet’s departure comes on the heels of additional luxury shakeups, including LVMH’s Dior leadership reshuffle, as the industry embraces technology and new design concepts.
Missguided
Missguided hired Kenyatte Nelson as its new chief customer officer. Nelson joins Missguided from Shop Direct, where he served as the company’s group marketing director.
The Costume Institute
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute appointed Karen Van Godtsenhoven as its new associate curator. Van Godtsenhoven previously worked at Antwerp’s ModeMuseum, where she oversaw 20th and 21st century fashion exhibitions.