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This week in fashion news: One major luxury retailer tapped a new creative director, and another brought on a new CMO.
Tom Ford appoints creative director
Tom Ford has tapped Haider Ackermann as its new creative director to take the reins immediately. Colombia-born, Paris-based Ackermann previously ran his namesake brand and also led Berluti as its creative director. “I have long been a great fan of Haider’s work,” Tom Ford’s eponymous founder said in a statement. “I find both his womenswear and menswear equally compelling. He is an incredible colorist, his tailoring is sharp, and above all he is modern.”
Why this matters: Ackermann’s appointment comes just over a month after former Creative Director Peter Hawkings’s abrupt exit from Tom Ford, where he held the position for just two seasons. His departure coincided with the current luxury slump and consumer spending pullback.
Burberry has a new CMO
Things are changing over at Burberry, too, where ex-Versace exec Jonathan Kiman has taken over as the brand’s new CMO, succeeding Rod Manley, who left this year. Kiman comes on after spending 12 years at Gucci, where he held several executive positions including that of CMO. But wait, that’s not all. The British luxury retailer has also brought Laura Dubin-Wander onboard as president of the Americas. Her most recent role was as CEO of OTB North America, but she has also previously worked in high-level management roles at brands including Dior and Coach.
Why this matters: Both Kiman and Dubin-Wander joined the brand just weeks after Jonathan Akeroyd was replaced by Joshua Schulman as CEO. These executive shifts come at a particularly challenging time for Burberry as it faces declining sales and share prices.
Shein and Temu under investigation
Speaking of challenging times, Shein and Temu are in the middle of them as two leaders from the US Consumer Products Safety Commission are investigating the retailers over allegedly “deadly baby and toddler products” that were reportedly on sale on the websites, per a US CPSC letter.
Why this matters: The investigation is part of the commission’s litany of concerns that have come up as Shein targets a US IPO. Aside from garnering criticism for its alleged unsustainable practices, bipartisan lawmakers in the US have also encouraged the SEC to investigate accusations of labor abuses.