Dior
On January 31, French luxury brand Dior, under the LVMH Group, announced the departure of Kim Jones as Artistic Director of Menswear.
Kim Jones had held this position for seven years and was a key creative figure within LVMH. From 2011 to 2018, he served as Artistic Director of Menswear at Louis Vuitton, where he led the landmark collaboration with New York streetwear brand Supreme, igniting the luxury streetwear trend. Additionally, from September 2020 to October 2024, he concurrently served as Artistic Director at Fendi, overseeing the brand’s haute couture, ready-to-wear, and fur collections.
Dior expressed its gratitude to Kim Jones, stating, “We extend our deepest thanks to Kim Jones. He accelerated the international development of the brand’s menswear collections and significantly enhanced Dior’s global influence by creating a wardrobe that is both classic and modern, drawing inspiration from and collaborating with contemporary artists.”
The British designer studied graphic design and photography at Camberwell College of Arts before earning a master’s degree in menswear from Central Saint Martins. After graduation, he launched his eponymous brand and worked with Umbro, Topman, Mulberry, and Hugo Boss. In 2008, he became Creative Director of Dunhill, part of the Swiss luxury group Richemont, before joining Louis Vuitton in 2011. In October 2020, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Maison Margiela / OTB Group
On January 29, Maison Margiela and its parent company, Italian luxury group OTB, announced the appointment of Glenn Martens as the new Creative Director of Maison Margiela, effective immediately. This follows the departure of John Galliano, who stepped down in December after a decade with the brand.
Renzo Rosso, CEO of OTB Group and founder of Diesel, stated, “After Martin (Maison Margiela’s founder) and John (John Galliano), I am proud to welcome the third fashion designer to lead Margiela.”
He emphasized that, like Martin Margiela and John Galliano, Glenn Martens is also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Additionally, Martens honed his craft in Paris, much like Martin Margiela, and worked for French fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier. After leaving Gaultier in 2012, Martens launched his own namesake brand for three seasons before taking over at Y/Project in 2013 following the passing of its founder, Yohan Serfaty.
Previously, Glenn Martens also served as Creative Director of Diesel, another brand under the OTB Group. Even after joining Maison Margiela, he will continue his role at Diesel. Handling dual responsibilities may come naturally to Martens, as he has simultaneously designed for both Y/Project and Diesel over the past four years.
Chanel
Recently, French luxury house Chanel appointed Olivier Kessler-Gay as General Manager of Watches & Fine Jewelry for the U.S. market, effective March 3. He will report to Stéphane Blanchard, President of Chanel USA. Kessler-Gay succeeds Emilie de Tramasure, who was appointed General Manager of Perfume & Beauty last September.
In his new role, Kessler-Gay will lead long-term strategic initiatives to expand Chanel’s watches and fine jewelry business in the U.S.
Before joining Chanel, Kessler-Gay accumulated over 25 years of experience in the luxury jewelry, fashion, and retail industries. Most recently, he served as General Manager for Pandora’s Western Europe region (Spain, Portugal, and France), where he helped reshape the company culture, increase brand awareness, and double its business size. Prior to Pandora, he spent four years at VF Corporation, overseeing the growth of The North Face, Vans, and Timberland as Vice President and General Manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Earlier in his career, Kessler-Gay held various roles at Cartier, where he worked for nearly 20 years across sales, marketing, and merchandising. Before becoming Managing Director for Spain and Portugal, he played a key role in Cartier’s expansion into the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Eastern Europe, transforming these regions into Cartier’s top-performing markets.
According to reports, in February 2023, Chanel opened its first watch and jewelry flagship store in the U.S., located at 730 Fifth Avenue, New York. Spanning two floors with a 3,300-square-foot retail space, the store marked a significant milestone for the brand. At the time, Frédéric Grangié, President of Chanel Watches & Jewelry, stated that the category was performing exceptionally well, with U.S. business doubling from 2019 to 2022.
However, just last week, Chanel laid off 70 employees in the U.S., representing approximately 2.5% of its American workforce. In a statement, a Chanel spokesperson explained, “To better adapt to current economic challenges, the company has made the difficult decision to adjust its workforce after careful consideration. While these changes are challenging, they are an important step in strengthening Chanel’s ability to thrive in a competitive and evolving market. Chanel is a long-term business, and the U.S. remains a key market and an essential part of our strategic vision. We will continue investing in our talent and retail network to provide clients with exceptional and unique experiences.”
Gucci
Italian luxury brand Gucci, under the Kering Group, has appointed Christophe Marque as President and CEO of Gucci Americas. He will report to Cayetano Fabry, Gucci’s Chief Business Officer, and will assume the role on April 1. Marque replaces Federico Turconi, who left Gucci in October last year to become CEO of SA Hospitality Group, an Italian hotel management company.
Christophe Marque brings 25 years of experience in brand, sales, and retail management. Most recently, he worked at DFS, the duty-free retail subsidiary of LVMH, where he held positions including Executive Vice President of Marketing and Global President of Marketing.
Marque began his career in L’Oréal’s Luxury Cosmetics Division, where he held key roles across luxury beauty brands Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, and Giorgio Armani in both Europe and Asia. Later, he joined Hermès as General Manager of Fragrance for France and the Benelux region, where he helped establish Hermès’ first dedicated beauty subsidiary in the region.
Gucci continues to implement its profitability turnaround strategy, and this appointment is part of broader efforts led by CEO Stefano Cantino to streamline operations and enhance decision-making. In August 2023, Gucci also appointed Cayetano Fabry as Chief Business Officer, another key move in the brand’s strategic overhaul. Fabry previously held an executive role at Saint Laurent, also part of the Kering Group.
Canada Goose
On January 28, Canadian luxury outerwear brand Canada Goose appointed Judit Bankus as Senior Vice President of Marketing. She will report to Carrie Baker, the brand’s President of Brand & Commercial.
In her new role, Judit Bankus will work closely with Haider Ackermann, Canada Goose’s Creative Director, to bring his creative vision to life. She will oversee the development and execution of global marketing and pricing strategies, drive expansion across existing and emerging product categories, and play a key role in shaping the brand’s product roadmap through the lens of sustainability and innovation. Her leadership will support the company’s long-term growth and commercial success.
Judit Bankus has nearly 20 years of experience in the international luxury fashion industry. Most recently, she served as Chief Marketing Officer at Stella McCartney, overseeing all product categories. Before that, she spent eight years at Burberry, rising to Global Marketing Director, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s global strategy. Additionally, she was instrumental in the founding of the Karl Lagerfeld brand.
Carrie Baker, President of Brand & Commercial at Canada Goose, commented, “Judit masterfully balances the art and science behind marketing success. With her strong entrepreneurial spirit and deep luxury experience, she is the perfect leader to guide this critical function and help Canada Goose enter its next phase of growth. Her appointment reinforces our commitment to key areas, ensuring our expanding product offerings continue to inspire and engage consumers worldwide.”
| Sources: Official brand websites, LinkedIn profiles of executives
| Image Credit: Official brand websites, LinkedIn profiles of executives
| Editor: Jiang Jingjin
