Vivienne Westwood / Vivienne Westwood Foundation
Recently, Cora Corré, the granddaughter of the late renowned British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood (nicknamed the “Queen of Punk”), announced her resignation as Events Manager for the Vivienne Westwood brand in an open letter to all employees, urging the removal of CEO Carlo d’Amario. Corré accused d’Amario of betraying the legacy her grandmother left behind.
The 27-year-old model and activist also alleged that d’Amario, who joined the company in 1986, had conflicts with Vivienne Westwood in the last years of her life. “In the years leading up to my grandmother’s death, she was deeply dissatisfied with the company’s management… Her wish was to remove d’Amario and have the company run in a way that respects her values,” Corré stated.
Image above: Cora Corré (left) with her grandmother, Vivienne Westwood
The disputes revolve around the Vivienne Westwood brand and the Vivienne Foundation, a charity founded by Westwood in 2019.
Dame Vivienne Westwood, a pioneering British fashion designer lauded as the Queen of Punk in the 1970s, passed away in 2022 at the age of 81. In her lifetime, she was a committed activist, using her fashion shows to address environmental issues and other social causes she cared about. According to the Intellectual Property Office, the Vivienne Westwood brand registered the trademark “Vivienne Foundation” in 2019 in categories like “fundraising in the field of climate change.” This foundation is currently managed by Westwood’s surviving family members, including Cora Corré, who was appointed to the foundation’s board in April, according to the UK’s Companies House.
Image above: Carlo d’Amario
Corré claimed that Westwood transferred all her intellectual property and copyrights to the foundation before her death, including rights to works created before the Vivienne Westwood brand’s establishment in 1993. However, the Vivienne Westwood brand, under d’Amario’s leadership, has contested the foundation’s ownership of its trademark, refusing to pay royalties and effectively “blocking” the foundation’s ability to raise funds for causes that Westwood passionately supported. Corré revealed that, for two years, the brand has refused to communicate with the foundation, instead opting to issue legal threats.
As of now, Vivienne Westwood’s widower, Andreas Kronthaler, continues to serve as the brand’s Creative Director.
Bally
Ennio Fontana has officially taken over as the new CEO of Swiss luxury brand Bally, replacing Nicolas Girotto, who joined Bally in 2015 and stepped down in late September to pursue other career opportunities.
Previously, Fontana held senior roles at Dsquared2, Tod’s, Cavalli, and Philipp Plein, bringing 17 years of international experience in the fashion industry. His extensive expertise positions him as a strong leader with the business acumen to drive strategic expansion and market reinforcement.
Founded in 1851, Bally is known for its footwear, leather goods, and ready-to-wear collections. In August, California-based investment firm Regent LP acquired Bally, adding it to its portfolio of brands, which includes Club Monaco, Escada, and La Senza. Bally’s previous owner, JAB Holding, is an investment company under the German billionaire Reimann family.
Courrèges / Artemis
Artemis, the holding company of French luxury group Kering and owner of the French fashion brand Courrèges, recently appointed Marie Leblanc, former CEO of the Victoria Beckham brand, as Courrèges’ new CEO, effective November 4. Leblanc will succeed Adrien Da Maia, who plans to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
Upon assuming her role, Leblanc will collaborate with the brand’s Creative Director Nicolas Di Felice to “lead Courrèges into an exciting new growth phase.” Artemis noted that Leblanc’s mission will involve accelerating Courrèges’ expansion, reinforcing the organizational structure, and supporting the brand’s creative momentum.
Leblanc began her career in the design studio of French brand Isabel Marant and subsequently oversaw collection development for Celine and Sonia Rykiel. Later, she managed women’s fashion operations and purchasing strategies at the French department store Printemps, and since 2019, she served as CEO of British fashion brand Victoria Beckham, overseeing its transformation and growth.
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering Group and Artemis, commended Leblanc’s unique talent for fully immersing herself in creative work, ensuring alignment with the brand’s identity while crafting operational strategies to support and enhance the creative vision.
Pinault also expressed gratitude to Adrien Da Maia, acknowledging his successful leadership of Courrèges since 2020, which has prepared the brand for a new era of success.
Levi Strauss & Co.
On October 15, Levi Strauss & Co., the parent company of the American denim brand Levi’s, announced that its board has elected Daniel Geballe as a new board member, effective April 26, 2025. At that time, current board member David Friedman will retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Geballe, a Managing Director at SJF Ventures, has 11 years of experience investing in early-stage companies with positive social and environmental impacts. He has also served as Vice President and Chair of the Finance Committee at the Levi Strauss Foundation for nearly 14 years.
Levi Strauss & Co. CEO and President Michelle Gass noted, “Daniel Geballe’s leadership experience at SJF Ventures and his commitment to social and environmental responsibility make him a valuable addition to our board as we continue to drive the company’s long-term growth while maintaining profitability.”
Boohoo Group
Recently, John Lyttle, the CEO of the struggling British fast-fashion online retailer Boohoo Group, announced his upcoming departure. Boohoo Group’s portfolio includes brands such as Debenhams, Karen Millen, and PrettyLittleThing.
Before joining Boohoo, John Lyttle worked at Primark, Boohoo’s larger competitor. Since Lyttle’s appointment, Boohoo has faced a challenging five years. Prior to the pandemic, the company suffered significant reputational damage due to scandals involving low wages and unsafe working conditions at its suppliers in Leicester, UK. While Boohoo initially saw revenue growth driven by the surge in online shopping during the pandemic, revenue declined sharply as consumers returned to physical stores. High shipping costs have also hampered Boohoo’s expansion into the U.S. market.
Boohoo recently reported a drop in revenue for the first half of this year, down from £729 million last year to £620 million. Its market capitalization has also decreased by approximately 25% since the beginning of the year.
In response to these challenges, Boohoo has entered a strategic review phase, which may lead to a breakup of the company. Boohoo has stated that it believes it is “fundamentally undervalued” and has the potential to “unlock value for shareholders.”
Over the past 18 months, Boohoo has implemented several “decisive and powerful” strategies aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing group costs. The company also reported progress in revitalizing the Debenhams and Karen Millen brands. Boohoo’s current strategic review will explore various options across its divisions to maximize shareholder value.
The company recently secured a new £222 million debt financing agreement to provide “adequate funding” for its next phase of development. Jefferies analyst Andrew Wade commented that although the refinancing is a positive step, it includes a £100 million term loan due in August 2025, indicating that Boohoo has limited time to execute its strategic plan.
PrimaLoft
Recently, U.S.-based apparel insulation manufacturer PrimaLoft announced the appointments of Chris Gallo and Andrea Paulson to its leadership team. Chris Gallo has been named Senior Vice President of Product Strategy, while Andrea Paulson will serve as Senior Vice President of Innovation and Technology.
Image above: Chris Gallo (left) and Andrea Paulson (right)
Gallo previously served as Vice President of Product at the American fitness brand Nobull. Before that, he spent nearly six years at New Balance as General Manager of Global Team Sports and Promotional Sports. He has also held leadership roles in product marketing for Reebok’s fitness training lines and Adidas’ team sports division. Andrea Paulson, formerly with Saucony, led material development and innovation and was in charge of the brand’s Human Performance Lab.
With these new appointments, PrimaLoft aims to leverage Gallo and Paulson’s expertise to develop innovative, efficient, and sustainable insulation materials. PrimaLoft President and CEO Anne Cavassa noted, “Andrea brings unique technical expertise and visionary product leadership. Her deep understanding of material innovation and passion for sustainability are exactly what we need as we move forward… Chris has an exceptional talent for identifying future market needs and turning them into products loved by sports enthusiasts and professional athletes alike.”
Cavassa, who took on the role of PrimaLoft’s president nearly a year ago, has previously worked with brands like Nike, Timberland, and Saucony. PrimaLoft’s key clients include Helly Hansen and Isbjörn. Last year, PrimaLoft launched a new range of materials made from ocean plastic waste.
| Sources: Brand and corporate websites, executive LinkedIn profiles, Reuters, Bloomberg, Fortune, The Impression, shoez.biz
| Image Credit: Brand and corporate websites, executive LinkedIn profiles
| Editor: LeZhi
