Luxury apparel and accessories seller Burberry has announces several new roles for its senior leadership team. The moves are part of the ongoing business review that is targeting future growth opportunities in retail, product and digital enabled by changes to ways of working.
Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bailey will take on the new role of President and Chief Creative Officer, overseeing all elements of brand and design working in partnership with the new CEO on company strategy and culture.
Marco Gobbetti has been appointed Burbery’s new CEO, and will be responsible for all commercial, operational and financial elements of the business. He will join the board upon arrival from a date in 2017 as soon as he is contractually able to do so. Bailey will transition to his new role at that time and will remain on the board.
Gobbetti is currently Chairman and CEO of French luxury brand, Céline. With more than 20 years experience in the luxury industry he has a proven track record for growing and developing brands including Givenchy, Moschino and Bottega Veneta. Most recently, at Céline, his retail and customer focused strategies have delivered exceptional growth for the brand over the last 8 years.
Both Gobbetti and Bailey will report to Burberry chairman Sir John Peace.
Also, Julie Brown has been appointed to the new role of Chief Operating & Financial Officer.
Brown will join the business and the Board in early 2017 at the latest and will have responsibility for finance, Investor Relations, IT, global business services and business transformation.
Brown is currently Chief Financial Officer at the global medical technology business Smith and Nephew plc.