BVLGARI
BVLGARI, the Italian luxury jewelry brand under LVMH, has promoted Laura Burdese to the newly created position of Deputy General Manager, reporting to CEO Jean-Christophe Babin, effective September 1.
In her new role, Laura Burdese will oversee the jewelry, watches, fragrances, and leather goods divisions, as well as marketing and communications. The official statement praised her past contributions: “She successfully conceived and coordinated the company’s ‘single-brand elevation’ strategy, enhancing brand desirability through a new 360° brand experience and strengthening message, communication, and event consistency.”
Laura Burdese holds a degree in International Economics from the University of Trieste and a Master’s degree in Marketing. With over 20 years of experience in the beauty, watches, jewelry, and luxury sectors, she began her career in the beauty industry, working for giants like Beiersdorf and L’Oréal.
In 1999, she joined the Swiss Swatch Group, where she held various brand leadership roles over 18 years. In 2016, she became the CEO of LVMH’s fragrance brand Acqua di Parma until the end of 2021. She joined BVLGARI in January 2022 as Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
Bottega Veneta
Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta, part of the Kering Group, has appointed Barbara Zanin as the newly created Director of Craft and Heritage.
In her new role, Barbara Zanin will collaborate with Creative Director Matthieu Blazy and CEO Leo Rongone to preserve and promote the brand’s craftsmanship. She will also manage the brand’s Montebello workshop in Veneto, Italy, establish brand archives, and serve as an ambassador for Bottega Veneta’s leather craftsmanship.
Barbara Zanin has extensive experience in the leather industry. She joined Bottega Veneta in 1998 and has worked at the Montebello workshop for 23 years, starting as an assistant leather product researcher and eventually becoming the head of leather product development. She is also one of the founders of Bottega Veneta’s craftsmanship training school, Accademia Labor et Ingenium.
James Purdey & Sons
Swiss luxury group Richemont’s British heritage gunmaker, James Purdey & Sons, has appointed designer Giles Deacon as Creative Director for clothing, accessories, and brand image.
A Central Saint Martins graduate, Giles Deacon is a London-based designer and installation artist known for his feminine designs and clever use of patterns. His work is favored by celebrities such as Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, and Gwyneth Paltrow. He has worked with brands like Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and Tom Ford and currently designs costumes for films.
His gowns are in the collections of London’s V&A Museum and New York’s Metropolitan Museum. As a costume designer, he has collaborated with the New York City Ballet, Marvel, Lions Gate Films, and Fox Searchlight.
Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder has announced that Executive Vice President and CFO Tracey T. Travis will retire on June 30, 2025, at the end of the next fiscal year. During her tenure, she oversaw global finance, accounting, investor relations, IT, strategy, and new business development.
The company has identified her successor, who will be announced in the coming weeks. Tracey T. Travis will work closely with the successor to ensure a smooth transition.
Tracey T. Travis joined Estée Lauder in 2012 from Ralph Lauren, serving as Senior Vice President and CFO. Her career began as an engineer at General Motors, and she has held leadership roles at Limited Brands, American National Can Company, and PepsiCo.
Tracey T. Travis
Estée Lauder’s Executive Chairman William Lauder and CEO Fabrizio Freda praised her contributions to the company’s global financial and strategic transformation. They highlighted her team’s role in executing and driving an end-to-end acquisition strategy, including strategic acquisitions like Deciem and Tom Ford, and leading the New Incubation Ventures team.
Throughout her career, Tracey T. Travis has received numerous awards, including Institutional Investor’s Best CFO, Black Enterprise’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America, the 2019 CEW Achiever Award, and the 2022 WWD Women’s Wear Daily Power Women Award. In April, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering. She currently serves on the boards of Accenture and Meta Platforms Inc.
Olaplex
American haircare brand Olaplex has announced the addition of two experienced leaders to its executive team: Catherine Dunleavy as Chief Operating Officer and CFO, effective August 13, and Katie Gohman as Chief Marketing Officer, effective July 15.
In her new role, Catherine Dunleavy will oversee Olaplex’s business operations, coordinating all functions to effectively execute the company’s strategy and drive performance. Katie Gohman will lead the company’s global marketing efforts, enhancing brand awareness, relevance, and affinity with stylists and consumers.
Catherine Dunleavy
Catherine Dunleavy has over 20 years of experience driving strategy and performance at top consumer brands. She was most recently the President of the American travel luggage brand Away and has held roles at Nike, Comcast, NBCUniversal, and GE.
Katie Gohman is an experienced marketing and brand leader with expertise in nurturing and growing renowned retail and beauty brands. She began her career at L’Oréal and has held marketing leadership positions at Ralph Lauren and Coach, most recently serving as CMO at Marc Jacobs.
Olaplex CEO Amanda Baldwin, appointed last year, expressed her excitement in welcoming these talented executives. She emphasized their role in continuing to leverage Olaplex’s strengths and realizing the company’s full potential. In a recent update, Olaplex reported a 13.1% decline in net sales to $98.9 million and a 63.1% drop in net income for the first quarter.
| Sources: Official Press Releases, FashionNetwork, fashionmagazine, Personal LinkedIn Accounts
| Image Credit: Official Brand Sources
| Editor: LeZhi
