Industry Moves: Shira Sue Carmi Is Joining Altuzarra as CEO + More

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Jan. 31, 2020: Shira Sue Carmi is joining Altuzarra as CEO, succeeding Karis Durmer, who is going to Scotch & Soda as CEO of the Americas. Carmi was formerly president of accessories company Mansur Gavriel.

Jan. 30, 2020: H&M has named Helena Helmersson as its new CEO. She was most recently the COO and replaces Karl-Johan Persson, who will become chairman of the board. The move comes as Stefan Persson steps down after two decades in the position. The Swedish retailer saw a 9% increase in gross profit to $3.46 billion over the fourth quarter of 2019.

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Jan. 29, 2020: Toms Shoes has appointed Magnus Wedhammar as its new CEO. The exec formerly served three years as VP and GM at Sanuk until his departure from the label in December. Prior to that role, he was VP of product at Sperry and also worked at Converse for a decade.

Jan. 29, 2020: Bloomingdale’s has announced the promotion of Stacie Borteck to SVP and GMM for its center core departments including handbags, shoes and fashion accessories. Borteck has held positions as VP and divisional merchandise manager of cosmetics and fragrances as well as DMM for the center core at Bloomingdales.com since she joined the firm in 2007. She replaces Francine Klein, who spent 45 years at the chain, most recently as EVP and GMM of the center core brands, and retires effective Feb. 28.

Jan. 28, 2020: J.Crew has a new leader in charge. Former Victoria’s Secret executive Jan Singer has been named CEO of the specialty apparel and accessories retailer, overseeing its flagship brand and J.Crew Factory outlets starting Feb. 2. The new chief joins the company after a more-than-yearlong search, following the departure of longtime head Mickey Drexler in 2017 and his successor, Jim Brett, who served only 16 months in the job.

Jan. 28, 2020: Former head of menswear for Barneys New York, Tom Kalenderian has joined Ermenegildo Zegna as strategic adviser for retail and merchandising in the U.S. He has also been named a board member of Ermenegildo Zegna in the U.S. Angelo Zegna, son of Gildo Zegna, the company’s CEO has also joined the company as head of retail and merchandising in the U.S.

Jan. 27, 2020: Columbia Sportswear Company‘s Tim Boyle is adding another title to his role. The veteran exec, who already serves as president and CEO, was named chairman by the board of directors. The company also announced the appointment of longtime board member Andy Bryant as lead independent director.

Jan. 24, 2020: A week after Gap announced major C-suite changes, another top executive is exiting the company. Alegra O’Hare has left her role as chief marketing officer after less than a year on the job. She had reported to president and CEO Neil Fiske, whose departure was announced on Jan. 17. Prior to Gap, O’Hare spent more than a decade at Adidas in roles from brand director to VP of global brand communications.

Jan. 23, 2020: Sanuk has named Erick Ecklund to the post of GM, effective immediately. He replaces Magnus Wedhammer, who left the company on Dec. 13. Ecklund has over 20 years of industry experience, holding a range of leadership roles, including sales management and GM positions with DC Shoes and Podium Distribution.

Jan. 23, 2020: Dries Van Noten has named Matteo De Rosa as its new president, effective Feb. 1. According to FN’s sister publication WWD, De Rosa previously served as managing director of Ports 1961. His hire marks a significant business development for the label since its acquisition by Puig in June.

Jan. 20, 2020: Dune Group CEO James Cox is stepping down. During his 10-year stint at the company, Cox has been finance director, COO and CEO for the past three years. Cox will remain a nonexecutive director. Daniel Rubin, Dune’s executive chairman, is taking over as CEO in the interim to drive the growth agenda, which will focus on international expansion and e-commerce. The company is on the hunt for a permanent replacement for Cox.

Jan. 17, 2020: Walmart‘s chief merchant is reportedly leaving his post as the big-box retailer shuffles its executive ranks. According to multiple media reports, Steve Bratspies, who served for more than four years in the role, is being replaced by company veteran Scott McCall. The firm also announced the appointment of Dacona Smith as COO of its U.S. unit. The position had been vacant since Judith McKenna took the helm at Walmart’s international arm in 2018.

Jan. 17, 2020: Geox has promoted CFO Livio Libralesso to CEO. He joined the firm in 2001 and served in a variety of roles, including administration and finance director as well as corporate managing director. Libralesso succeeds Matteo Mascazzini, who was CEO for two years.

Jan. 17, 2020: Gap Inc. has made big leadership changes. It announced the appointment of Mark Breitbard, formerly president and CEO of Banana Republic, as executive chief of its full portfolio of brands. It also named Teri List-Stoll EVP and CFO, while Julie Gruber takes on the role of EVP and global general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer. Additionally, Neil Fiske, president and CEO of the Gap brand, has exited the company.

Jan. 16, 2020: A year after Payless ShoeSource filed its second bankruptcy and announced it would shutter its North America business, the retailer is emerging from Chapter 11 with new management. Payless appointed Jared Margolis, who previously served as president of CAA-GBG, a joint venture of Global Brands Group and Creative Artists Agency, as its CEO. The Payless Latin America division, which the company opted to keep in operation after its 2019 bankruptcy, is its largest current business unit and will now be led by CEO Justo Fuentes, the company also announced today. Fuentes previously served as president of BATA Latin America.

Jan. 15, 2020: Target has announced the retirement of EVP and chief stores officer Janna Potts, who served the company for 30 years in a variety of leadership roles. Succeeding her is Mark Schindele, whose appointment is effective immediately. As part of the role, Schindele, who has been with the retailer for nearly two decades, most recently as SVP of properties, is responsible for overseeing Target’s nearly 1,900 stores.

Jan. 15, 2020: JustFab has appointed Daria Burke as its CMO. The new exec, who joined the company in 2019, formerly served as the leader of fashion and retail advertising partnerships at Facebook. As marketing chief, she is responsible for leading JustFab’s customer acquisition strategy as well as driving global membership growth and revenue for the firm. Burke has prior experience as head of beauty strategy, innovation and experience at CVS, and she was one of the 10 founding team members of Rent the Runway.

Jan. 15, 2020: Andrew Blecher, SVP and chief communications officer at Hudson’s Bay Co., is stepping down to pursue other interests. He has been at the company since 2014, when the company acquired Saks Fifth Avenue, and was promoted to his current role in 2016.

Jan. 15, 2020: Jim Pisani is stepping down as Timberland’s global brand president, VF Corp. announced today. The outdoor brand said in a statement that Pisani, who assumed the post in August 2016, is exiting his role to move to the Midwest to be closer to his family. The search for Pisani’s successor is underway and Martino Scabbia Guerrini, VF Corp. EMEA region group president, will serve as Timberland’s acting global brand president, effective immediately. Guerrini will work with Pisani to ensure the transition goes smoothly, the company said. Pisani is a VF veteran, who also served as president of its Licensed Sports Group — including its Majestic business — from 2008 until joining Timberland.

Jan. 13, 2020: Iain Nairn has been named the president of Hudson’s Bay Co., reporting directly to CEO Helena Foulkes. The retail exec most recently served as CEO of Swedish design and stationery business kikki.K and previously held executive chief posts at Australia-based department store chain David Jones, Country Road Group and Witchery Group.

Jan. 13, 2020: Fanatics has promoted Gina Sprenger to the new role of chief strategic retail officer. The exec, who has worked at the firm since 2016, is tasked with heading merchandising, inventory management and field operations for the company’s strategic retail department. She will continue to report to global co-president of direct-to-consumer retail Jack Boyle and will join the executive leadership team led by CEO Doug Mack. She previously served as head of the e-commerce division for Fanatics’ NCAA and hardgoods businesses as well as the firm’s merchandising efforts in stores.

Jan. 13, 2020: Steven Cateron has been appointed senior creative director of Rebecca Taylor and Parker effective today, Vince Holding Corp. announced on Friday. In his position, Cateron will oversee all apparel design and creative services across the two brands. Cateron most recently served as creative director and SVP design at Club Monaco; he had worked for Club Monaco since 2009 and, earlier, he began his career at Theory.

Jan. 10, 2020: Joel Oblonsky, who was appointed CEO of Titan Industries in May 2018, has joined the Steve Madden team. The footwear executive’s new role is president of Anne Klein and Blondo, under Steven Madden Ltd. Oblonsky’s prior positions have included CEO of Nine West Group; president Polo and Lauren footwear brands, Lauren Accessories; and president and COO, Nina Footwear Corp.

Jan. 10, 2020: Ross Stores has announced the departure of Bernie Brautigan, who served as president of merchandising at Ross Dress for Less since 2016. Brautigan spent about 16 years as a merchandising executive at the firm. Senior merchant leaders under his areas of responsibility will now report directly to CEO Barbara Rentler.

Jan. 10, 2020: Zadig & Voltaire has named Rémy Baume as its president, reported FN’s sister publication WWD. He succeeds Jean-Jacques Guével, who took the top post at Balmain last month. Baume previously held the role of CEO at Kidiliz Group, which has created children’s apparel lines for brands including Kenzo, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Levi’s. He has also worked at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and served as a member of the executive committee of Carrefour Group.

Jan. 9, 2020: Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger parent PVH Corp. has announced the appointment of Tom Chu as its regional president of Asia Pacific, effective Feb. 1. Chu, who will report to company president Stefan Larsson, previously served as president of PVH’s Japan business and has been with the firm for more than six years. He succeeds Frank Cancelloni, who departs PVH at the end of March to pursue new opportunities.

Jan. 8, 2020: Lululemon has hired Nikki Neuburger as its chief brand officer. As part of her new role, Neuburger will be tasked with elevating the brand as well as leading its marketing, creative, communications and sustainability functions. She joins the team on Jan. 20 and will report to CEO Calvin McDonald. Neuburger previously served as the global head of marketing for Uber Eats and spent 14 years at Nike, most recently as its global VP of Nike Running.

Jan. 8, 2020: Bonpoint has named a new CEO. According to FN’s sister publication WWD, Pierre-André Cauche is joining the brand from IKKS Group, where he had served as chief since 2014. He succeeds Christian Piat, who was Bonpoint parent EPI’s Asia director and interim CEO of the French children’s wear company following the departure of Marine-Sabine Leclercq in May. Cauche started his career at KPMG then worked at labels Pimkie and Lynx Optique.

Jan. 6, 2020: Sequential Brands Group has appointed David Conn as director and CEO. The move comes amid a period of restructuring for the New York-based firm, which in October announced the departure of CEO Karen Murray, who served in the role for just two years. Conn most recently served as CEO of product development and sourcing for the ThreeSixty Group. He’s also had experience at jeans brand True Religion and Vans parent VF Corp.

Jan. 6, 2020: Coach has tapped Susan Pellish-Thaler as general manager and VP of North American wholesale, leading the business’s sales as well as field and operations teams. She reports directly to president of Coach North America Laura Dubin-Wander. Her previous experience includes the roles of SVP and group president at Camuto Group and president and SVP and general manager at Sam Edelman. She has also held various positions at Loehman’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Anne Klein.

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