CEOs & Fashion Houses

[Creative]

Hello!

Since fashion these days is almost more about CEOs than designers, I think it's not a bad idea to create a thread to gather the news about recent hirings, strategies, successes, flops, etc.

I will start with an obvious one:

Chanel
Alain Wertheimer - till Dec2021
Jan 2022 - Leena Nair

You can basically tell that there's no fashion understanding in her approach. I feel like Chanel started a very grey era since she joined. Is it just me? Is she in good terms with Bruno?

 

[kasper!]

TOM FORD

Domenico De Sole (stepped down with Tom in 2023)
Guillaume Jesel (promoted from TF Beaute)

 

[Creative]

Gucci

Patrizio di Marco
Marco Bizarri Jan2015 - Sept2024
Stefano Cantino Jan2025

 

[Creative]

TOM FORD

Domenico De Sole (stepped down with Tom in 2023)
Guillaume Jesel (promoted from TF Beaute)

It’s crazy how they made Tom Ford such a household name in such a short period of time. It must be one of the very few cases in recent history, right? That one and Off White maybe

 

[Creative]

Chloé

Riccardo Bellini Dec2019 - Dec2023 (4 years)
Laurent Malecaze Jan2024

 

[kasper!]

It’s crazy how they made Tom Ford such a household name in such a short period of time. It must be one of the very few cases in recent history, right? That one and Off White maybe

IMHO TF and The Row are the only two American luxury brands in this market. The reason is that he could success in such a short period is that he has solid foundation from menswear...which allows him to explore other fields. And Tom has a good business partner. Kering should have hired Domenico as a consultant lol

Marco Gobbetti
Celine : till 2016
Burberry : 2016- 2021 July
Ferragamo : 2021 - 2025

 

[Creative]

Dior
Sidney Toledano till end of 2017
Pietro Beccari 2018 - 2022 (beginning of 2023)
Delphine Arnault Feb2023

 

[Lola701]

^^
Sydney Toledano from 1998 to 2017. He joined Dior/LVMH in 1993 at the leather goods department and the first bag under his management was the Lady Dior.

It’s crazy how they made Tom Ford such a household name in such a short period of time. It must be one of the very few cases in recent history, right? That one and Off White maybe

Tom and Dom had 10 years of experience at Gucci and YSL. That’s why they didn’t made some of the same mistakes.
He used licenses in a clever way. He had enough money to set up his studio in London. They used licenses for the production and distribution of the menswear, fragrances and eyewear which can be difficult but with the right partners, it works. They only launched womenswear after 5 years and had a lot of stores through franchises.

For me Off White is not a good example of a household name.

However, I think Thom Browne is. And what they have achieved in such a short period is impressive.

Hello!

Since fashion these days is almost more about CEOs than designers, I think it's not a bad idea to create a thread to gather the news about recent hirings, strategies, successes, flops, etc.

I will start with an obvious one:

Chanel
Alain Wertheimer - till Dec2021
Jan 2022 - Leena Nair

You can basically tell that there's no fashion understanding in her approach. I feel like Chanel started a very grey era since she joined. Is it just me? Is she in good terms with Bruno?

Before Alain Weirtheimer, it was Maureen Chiquet. And again, she came from GAP.