Unilever
European consumer goods giant Unilever has appointed Fernando Fernandez as its new CEO, succeeding Hein Schumacher, effective March 1.
Hein Schumacher will also step down from the board and leave the company on May 31. He has served as Unilever’s CEO since 2023, having previously been the CEO of global dairy and nutrition company Royal FrieslandCampina.
Fernando Fernandez is a long-time Unilever executive. Most recently, he served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and was previously head of Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing division. Before that, he led Unilever’s Latin American operations. Between 2011 and 2019, he was responsible for Unilever’s Brazilian market, and earlier in his career, he led Unilever’s business in the Philippines as well as its global haircare segment.
Fernando Fernandez commented:
“It is an honor to be appointed CEO. Our focus will be on building a future-fit portfolio, delivering attractive growth, and offering unrivaled functional and perceptible benefits across our top 30 Power Brands. I have full confidence in our team’s ability to position Unilever as a global industry leader and create substantial value for our shareholders.”
Unilever has launched an internal and external search for a permanent CFO. Meanwhile, from March 1, 2025, Srinivas Phatak, currently Deputy CFO and Group Financial Controller, will take on the role of interim CFO. Srinivas Phatak has held senior global and local roles in finance, strategy, and supply chain, including serving as CFO of Hindustan Unilever Limited.
Decathlon
French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has appointed Julien Leclercq, son of founder Michel Leclercq, as Chairman of the Board, effective March 10.
Following a comprehensive months-long selection process, Decathlon’s board decided that Julien Leclercq would succeed Fabien Derville.
At 40 years old, Julien Leclercq is already a board member at Decathlon and has 20 years of experience within the company. His previous roles include serving as a category manager in the Spanish market, managing a Decathlon store in Belgium, and launching the “Decathlon Initiatives in Singapore” project.
Additionally, Julien Leclercq is responsible for the Genairgy investment fund and was involved in founding Decathlon Travel, a subsidiary specializing in sports tourism.
P448
Italian sneaker brand P448 has appointed Lori Sigismondo as President, reporting to Wayne Kulkin, Executive Chairman of parent company StreetTrend.
In her new role, Lori Sigismondo will oversee P448’s global strategy and execution, with a focus on expanding the brand’s global retail footprint, enhancing the digital shopping experience, strengthening digital marketing, and promoting innovation, sustainability, and craftsmanship.
Lori Sigismondo joined P448 in 2018 as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), during which she led the redesign and relaunch of the brand’s website and e-commerce platform. She also spearheaded the opening of P448’s first standalone stores in New York and Las Vegas, as well as pop-up stores in Miami, Paris, and Boston. Additionally, she played a key role in P448’s expansion into the Chinese market, partnering with local company Fang Group to open stores in Beijing, Macau, and Hefei, along with launching an official Tmall flagship store.
Before joining P448, Lori Sigismondo spent a decade in the marketing division of U.S. luxury footwear brand Stuart Weitzman, where she served as Vice President of Retail Marketing.
1972 Desa
Luxury leather apparel and handbag brand 1972 Desa has appointed Ivana Omazic as its Creative Director.
Ivana Omazic has been with the brand for some time, having worked behind the scenes on the Spring 2025 collection. Her first official collection in this role will debut for the Fall/Winter 2025-26 season.
She studied in Milan and began her career at Romeo Gigli, later working with renowned fashion houses including Miu Miu, Jil Sander, Celine, and Maison Martin Margiela.
Founded in 2012, 1972 Desa is part of the Desa Group, which was established by the Çelet family in Istanbul in 1972 and went public on the Turkish Stock Exchange in 2004. With 2,000 employees, Desa Group is one of Turkey’s leading industrial enterprises and a key player in the country’s leather industry, particularly in luxury leather goods. The group operates 116 Desa-branded boutiques, offering men’s and women’s apparel, bags, and accessories. It also owns four production facilities, three in Turkey and one in Italy, employing 1,200 skilled artisans.
Additionally, the company serves as a supplier to multiple Italian and French luxury brands, with third-party luxury brand collaborations accounting for 60% of its total production.
Grey/Ven
Luxury fashion brand Grey/Ven has appointed designer Ilana Kugel as its new Creative Director of Womenswear.
Ilana Kugel is best known for her work with her own swimwear brand, Koral, and was the first athleisure designer to be inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). She has previously collaborated with Grey/Ven on resort and pre-fall collections.
Her first major collection for Grey/Ven, titled “The Journey,” will include a range of knitwear, dresses, and lightweight layering pieces.
Scott Weissman, CEO of Grey/Ven, stated: “Ilana Kugel’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Grey/Ven. As the creative director of our womenswear line, her expertise in contemporary fashion will bring a fresh perspective to our designs. I am also excited for her leadership in expanding our growing luxury handbag and accessories collections, further shaping the future of Grey/Ven.”
Orla Kiely
Irish designer handbag and accessories brand Orla Kiely has appointed luxury retail expert Jalil Rahman as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), responsible for driving the brand’s next phase of global strategic development.
In his new role, Jalil Rahman will focus on expanding the brand’s customer base while balancing creativity with commercial growth.
Prior to joining Orla Kiely, he served as Director of Business Development at Richemont Group (December 2022 – January 2025), where he led the launch of a new startup luxury brand. He has also held positions including Director of Brand Partnerships & Licensing at Liberty, as well as roles at Vertu, Ozwald Boateng, and Burberry.
Dermott Rowan, General Manager and Co-owner of Orla Kiely, commented: “Jalil brings extensive experience working with both heritage design and luxury brands. His appointment marks a new chapter for our company as we continue to invest in our people and grow our business. With the brand’s ongoing expansion, we look forward to strengthening our global presence.”
| Sources: Official press releases, AFP, Pambianconews, Fashion Network
| Image sources: Brand websites, executive social media profiles
| Editor: LeZhi
