In Review 2022: The big fashion and retail appointments

2022 has seen a lot of change in the fashion and retail industry, with several high profile businesses changing leaders, appointing new executives, and launching new strategies.

As we approach 2023, TheIndustry.fashion has curated a list of the most important appointments from the past year. Each headline directs to further information on the appointment.

Matchesfashion appoints former ASOS chief Nick Beighton as CEO

In July 2022, the luxury online fashion destination named former ASOS CEO Nick Beighton has its new CEO. Beighton took over from Paolo de Cesare, the former Printemps Group president who was appointed CEO 10 months prior.

Talking about his appointment, Beighton said: “Using technology, product, logistics and culture, I have helped disrupt existing consumer patterns and galvanise change in organisations and I hope to bring these skills to my new role.”

Joe Browns appoints ex-JD Sports COO Peter Alecock as CEO

Yorkshire-based fashion and homeware retailer Joe Browns confirmed the appointment of Peter Alecock as CEO. Alecock joined the company from JD Sports, where he held the role of Chief Operating Officer of its fashion division since September 2019, having worked for the company for 16 years in various roles.

Simon Brown, Joe Browns Founder, decided to become more heavily involved with the product and brand. Brown featured in TheIndustry.fashion’s In Conversation Podcast, where he discussed the company’s growth plans of reaching £100 million annually by 2026.

JD Sports appoints new CEO and Chairman following Peter Cowgill’s exit

JD Sports saw former Morrisons boss Andrew Higginson take over as Chairman from Peter Cowgill. Cowgill stepped down in May after 18 years as the sportswear retailer’s executive chairman. His resignation came after the company was fined £4.3 million by the competition watchdog for exchanging information with Footasylum in February.

JD Sports then confirmed the appointment of Régis Schultz as its new CEO to drive the sports fashion PLC’s international growth ambitions. Schultz, whose appointment had been widely anticipated in the business press, was appointed after an “extensive global search process”.

ASOS appoints José Ramos Calamonte as CEO

ASOS announced the appointment of José Antonio Ramos Calamonte as Chief Executive Officer and Jørgen Lindemann as Chairman.

Ramos Calamonte is an experienced international retailer, with deep multichannel experience and a track record of driving innovation. In an 18-year career in retail, he has led on commercial strategy for high-profile brands including Inditex, Esprit and Carrefour Spain, having started his career at McKinsey.

Lindemann, who joined the ASOS Board as a non-executive director on 1 November 2021, succeeded Ian Dyson as Chairman after he outlined his intention to step down from the board last year.

New Look appoints Helen Connolly as CEO

New Look confirmed that Chief Commercial Officer Helen Connolly would step up to the role of CEO. She replaced Nigel Oddy, who stood down from the role after three years as CEO.

Connolly joined the high street fashion retailer in January 2020, and was CEO at fashion chain Bonmarché since joining in August 2016. Prior to this, she was Director of Buying, Womenswear and Lingerie, for George at ASDA, and Head of Buying at Dorothy Perkins.

END appoints Parker Gundersen as CEO

Luxury streetwear and sportswear retailer END appointed Parker Gundersen as its new CEO to oversee its “next phase of growth”, succeeding founders Christiaan Ashworth and John Parker, who “will remain in key positions” on the board of directors.

The move followed last year’s majority investment in END by global investment firm Carlyle. Gundersen was formerly President of Retail Operations at LVMH subsidiary DFS Group, and has also been the CEO of Zalora, a leading fashion e-commerce player in Asia.

Burberry names Daniel Lee as Chief Creative Officer

Burberry appointed Daniel Lee as its new Chief Creative Officer, replacing Riccardo Tisci in the role. Lee is based at Burberry’s headquarters in London reports to Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Akeroyd.

From 2018 to 2021, Lee served as Creative Director at Bottega Veneta. Prior to this, he was Director of ready-to-wear design at Celine and has also worked at Maison Margiela, Balenciaga and Donna Karan.

Gymshark signs ASOS’s Mat Dunn as Chief Financial Officer

Gymshark, the fitness community and apparel brand, announced that Mat Dunn is to join the company as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Dunn will join in early 2023, replacing outgoing CFO Philip Daw. He joins after nearly four years as CFO at ASOS. For the past year, he has also held the role of Chief Operating Officer and served a period as interim Chief Executive following the departure of the previous CEO in late 2021.

Matalan appoints Nigel Oddy as interim CEO to deliver growth strategy

Matalan announced the appointment of Nigel Oddy as Interim CEO, following an extensive recruitment process, which has been underway over the past year.

Oddy has significant retail experience in senior leadership roles, most recently at New Look as CEO and formerly COO. His priorities will focus on the delivery of the ongoing growth strategy; to drive performance in the core business; further build and develop omni-channel capabilities; unlock and deliver new growth opportunities; and reposition the brand.

Nitin Passi returns as Missguided CEO after Frasers Group acquisition

Nitin Passi, the founder of Missguided, returned as its CEO following an acquisition by Frasers Group. The acquisition came after Missguided appointed Teneo to lead it through administration following a winding-up petition by suppliers who were owed millions of pounds.

Passi founded Missguided in 2009 and originally announced in April 2022 that it was time for him to step down from his “day-to-day leadership” as the business “explores strategic partnership options.”

Yoox Net-a-Porter appoints Alison Loehnis as interim CEO

Yoox Net-a-Porter confirmed the appointment of Alison Loehnis as interim Chief Executive Officer. Loehnis takes over from Geoffroy Lefebvre, who stepped down to pursue a private equity-backed entrepreneurial career outside of Richemont after 11 years with the group.

Loehnis joined Net-a-Porter in 2007 as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, before becoming President of the company in 2011 and assumed her most recent role following the merger of Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter & The Outnet with YOOX in 2015.

Net-a-Porter’s Vikki Kavanagh takes over as MD of Mr Porter

Net-a-Porter’s Managing Director Vikki Kavanagh has been appointed Managing Director of menswear retailer Mr Porter, uniting the two brands under the same leadership.

Kavanagh joined the YOOX-Net-a-Porter Group in 2018 as Global Buying and Merchandising Director at The Outnet. She then became Managing Director of Net-a-Porter in 2021. She also previously held roles various buying roles at Very Exclusive, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, and Fenwick.

Mothercare appoints first CEO in two years

Mother and child retailer Mothercare announced the appointment of Daniel Le Vesconte as its new Chief Executive Officer. Le Vesconte will join Mothercare in the new calendar year.

He brings a “wealth of international brand experience” in direct to consumer, franchise, wholesale and licensing, having held senior leadership roles for several globally recognised brands including Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, Dr Martens, and Vans (VF Corp).

Hush appoints ex-Feelunique exec as CEO

E-commerce platform Hush announced ex-Feelunique executive Sarah Miles as its new CEO, effective from 16 January 2023.

Miles has over 25 years of experience in driving growth among major UK-based and global brands, such as Sephora and Feelunique. At the beauty e-commerce platform Feelunique, she led a team that grew revenues to more than £100 million prior to its sale to Sephora in September 2021.

Puma appoints Maria Valdes as Chief Product Officer

Sportswear company Puma announced the appointment of Maria Valdes as Chief Product Officer and a member of the Board of Management, effective 1 January 2023.

In her new role, Valdes, who is currently the General Manager of Puma’s largest business unit sportstyle, will be responsible for the business units including sportstyle, motorsport, teamsport, running, training, basketball and accessories.

VF Corporation announces interim CEO as Steve Rendle retires

VF Corporation, the parent company of Vans and Timberland, announced that Steve Rendle has retired from his position as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Benno Dorer, Lead Independent Director of the VF Board of Directors, has been named Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Richard Carucci, a director on the Board since 2009, now serves as Interim Chairman of the Board.

Foot Locker appoints new CEO

New York-based speciality athletic wear and footwear retailer Foot Locker appointed Mary Dillion as new CEO.

The company’s board also determined that the Chair and Chief Executive Officer roles should be separated. The company’s Lead Independent Director, Dona Young, will become non-Executive Chair, effective from 1 February 2023.

Joules names former Compare the Market exec as CEO

Joules has announced Jonathon Brown as its new Chief Executive Officer. He joined from Compare the Market, where he most recently served as CEO. Prior to this, he has held various senior positions including Omnichannel Director at John Lewis, CEO of MandM Direct and COO of Photobox Group.

In December 2022, Joules’ Founder Tom Joule partnered with NEXT to acquire the majority of its assets via a newly formed company. The company also confirmed that Brown will remain in his role.

John Lewis appoints first Director of Design for Fashion

John Lewis named Queralt Ferrer as its first Director of Design for Fashion. The retailer appointed Ferrer as it seeks to become a “more significant player in fashion and home.”

An experienced Global Design and Creative Director, Queralt is responsible for the launch of the Massimo Dutti fashion brand and led the company’s growth over a 17 year period. She was previously the Director of Design for Marks & Spencer Womenswear and Lingerie and was credited for her work in redefining the brand and collection strategy to consolidate market leadership.

Diesel appoints Eraldo Poletto as CEO

Diesel announced the appointment of Eraldo Poletto as its new global CEO. Poletto has also held other CEO positions at Stuart Weitzman, Salvatore Ferragamo and Furla.

He took over the role of CEO from Massimo Piominini, who joined Diesel in December 2019 to design and implement a strategy and repositioning plan for the brand.

Swarovski names Alexis Nasard as its first external CEO

Luxury Swiss crystal company Swarovski named Alexis Nasard as its first CEO to come from outside the Swarovski family in the brand’s 127-year history. The change in leadership is a further step in the transition of Swarovski from a “family-managed to a family-owned company”.

With over 30 years experience in fast moving consumer goods and consumer packaged goods (FMCG CPG) and in fashion and retail, Nasard spent 17 years at Proctor & Gamble, six years at Heineken, and five years at Bata.

Pentland Brands appoints new Creative Director

Pentland Brands, owner of Ellesse and Speedo, appointed Paisley Wright as its new Director of Creative. Wright will lead the group’s plans to transform the Pentland Creative Agency into a digital-first in-house content agency.

She is also tasked with driving how the brands communicate and engage with their consumers, including embracing digital-first storytelling that can be used throughout the marketing funnel.

Wright joins Pentland Brands from Portas, where she has served as Deputy Managing Director since 2020. Prior to this, she held a number of roles at BBH London, working with brands including Levi’s, Matalan, Absolut, Costa Coffee and The Guardian.

Canada Goose names new President to drive global growth

As a part of its continued global expansion, Canada Goose announced the appointment of Carrie Baker to President. Baker had been introduced to enhance its executive structure and accelerate its next phase of global growth.

Baker has been at Canada Goose for over ten years, having held positions as EVP, Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer. In her most recent role, she was responsible for accelerating the North American business operations.

Ex-Gucci executive appointed CEO of Alexander McQueen

French luxury group Kering has appointed former Gucci executive Gianfilippo Testa as the new CEO of Alexander McQueen.

Kering said that Testa would take responsibility for “accelerating expansion of the British luxury house to tap its full potential.”

Testa has held executive roles at Gucci since 2016, serving as President of Europe and the Middle East, Vice President of Global Retail, and President of China. He previously worked for the LVMH with roles at TAG Heuer and Fendi.

Versace appoints former Alexander McQueen boss as CEO

Luxury fashion group Capri Holdings appointed Emmanuel Gintzburger as the new Chief Executive Officer of Versace.

Gintzburger joined Versace from Alexander McQueen, where he had served as CEO since May 2016. Prior to this, he was Worldwide Retail and Wholesale Director for Saint Laurent and International Retail Director at Lanvin.

Adidas appoints Alasdhair Willis as Chief Creative Officer

Adidas announced the appointment of Alasdhair Willis as Chief Creative Officer. Willis now provides global creative leadership and develops the brand’s creative culture.

Willis has a long-standing connection to Adidas that dates back to 2005, most notably through his role in the concept and development of Adidas by Stella McCartney in partnership with Stella McCartney. He has remained integral to the growth and development of the partnership since its launch.

Clarks appoints former Group President of HanesBrands as new CEO

British footwear brand Clarks announced the appointment of Jonathan Ram as its new CEO. Ram was most recently Group President of Global Activewear at HanesBrands, Inc., where he led the growth of the global activewear business across multiple brands and businesses.

With extensive footwear and apparel leadership experience, Ram spent 16 years at New Balance where he ran the LATAM, EMEA and North American businesses.