Authentic Brands Group
The American multi-brand management group Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has announced the appointment of Matt Maddox as its new President.
Matt Maddox brings over 20 years of experience in the global hospitality and gaming industries. He most recently served as the CEO of Wynn Resorts, a developer and operator of luxury hotels, casinos, and resorts. During his 20-year tenure at Wynn Resorts, Maddox played a pivotal role in the company’s global expansion. As the first employee to be assigned to Asia, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Wynn Macau Resort, contributing to the development of both Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace. After returning to the U.S., he became Wynn Resorts’ CFO in 2008, was promoted to President in 2013, and was named CEO in 2018. Under his leadership, Wynn Resorts became recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious luxury resort brands.
Jamie Salter, ABG’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, commented that Maddox’s extensive experience in scaling founder-led, complex high-growth businesses and his ability to drive operational excellence will be of immense value as ABG diversifies its business into new verticals and industries, enabling the group to seize new opportunities and accelerate growth.
In October 2023, ABG announced a joint venture with Saks Global, the parent company of the U.S. luxury department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue. The joint venture, called Authentic Luxury Group (ALG), integrates a selection of ABG’s luxury and premium brands, including Barneys New York, Judith Leiber Couture, Hervé Léger, and Vince. ALG aims to create the world’s most prestigious destinations through exclusive real estate partnerships, developing luxury-branded residences, apartments, and hotels to redefine and expand the modern luxury experience for global consumers. In November 2023, ABG announced its collaboration with Mexican real estate developer Sequence Tulum to launch the first Barneys New York-branded residential project in Tulum, Mexico.
Messika
The French fashion diamond and fine jewelry brand Messika has announced the appointment of Edouard Schneider as its Chief Brand Officer. As a key member of the global management team, Edouard Schneider will report directly to the brand’s Founder and Artistic Director, Valérie Messika.
In his new role, Edouard Schneider will be “responsible for all communications and brand image matters within the group, including operations at international subsidiaries in New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Dubai.” His responsibilities will encompass public relations, celebrity collaborations, event planning, social media, brand image, and visual merchandising.
Edouard Schneider holds a master’s degree in Marketing and Communications Business Management from ESG Business School in Paris and brings over 20 years of experience in communications, journalism, and public relations. Most recently, he served as Global Communications Director and Head of the Paris Office for Acne Studios for six and a half years, where he was also a member of the executive committee. Before that, Schneider was Global Communications and PR Director at Louis Vuitton, Chief Communications Officer at Maison Margiela, and worked with other notable brands such as Sonia Rykiel, Givenchy, and Swarovski.
Valérie Messika remarked, “At this pivotal moment of Messika’s international expansion, Edouard’s energy, extensive experience, deep understanding of the luxury sector, and expertise in global markets, particularly in Asia, are crucial to driving growth in these strategically important regions. … His leadership and expertise in the fashion and luxury industries will continue to foster our brand’s growth, strengthen our unique positioning in the industry, and enhance the disruptive appeal of Messika’s jewelry and high jewelry collections.”
It is noted that Messika has maintained strong growth post-pandemic, steadily opening new stores with an annual organic growth rate exceeding 40%. In 2023, the brand added 18 boutiques and plans to open 15 more in 2024, bringing its directly operated retail stores to 90 and its total global points of sale to 600. Recently, Messika opened its Paris flagship store at 52 Avenue des Champs-Élysées and is set to open a flagship store in New York City. Furthermore, last week, Messika became a member of the Comité Colbert, the French luxury industry association.
Saks Global/Neiman Marcus
Three weeks after Saks Global completed its $2.7 billion merger with the U.S. luxury department store group Neiman Marcus, the two entities announced the formation of a unified executive team to lead their retail brands. Key appointments include:
- Cheryl Han as Chief Digital Officer
- Kristin Maa as Chief Marketing Officer
- Paolo Riva as Chief Brand Partnerships and Merchandising Officer
- Stephanie Salierno as Senior Vice President of Merchandising
- Nivy Swaminathan as Senior Vice President of Business Analytics and Customer Insights
This newly formed executive team combines the expertise of talent from both Saks and Neiman Marcus and will report directly to Emily Essner, the newly appointed President and Chief Commercial Officer of Saks Global. Essner will oversee merchandising, marketing, customer analytics, and e-commerce, and she will report to Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks Global Operating Group. Essner previously served as Chief Marketing Officer for Saks.
Emily Essner
Additionally, Ian Putnam has been named CEO of Saks Global Properties & Investments, working alongside Marc Metrick and reporting to Richard Baker, Executive Chairman of Saks Global.
Emily Essner stated that Saks Global’s new team aims to transform the luxury shopping experience, innovating how luxury is presented and providing personalized, carefully curated experiences for every shopper.
The merged group now includes luxury department store brands such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Saks Off 5th, with an annual total revenue of approximately $10 billion. Despite the unified management structure, Bergdorf Goodman, a subsidiary of Neiman Marcus, will remain independently managed by Tracy Margolies, the former Chief Marketing Officer of Saks, who has been appointed President of Bergdorf Goodman.
Elisabetta Franchi
Matteo Aceti has been appointed Global Communications Director for Italian fashion brand Elisabetta Franchi, reporting to CEO Gabriele Maggio and Founder and Creative Director Elisabetta Franchi. His appointment took effect on January 7. This marks another significant leadership addition for the brand following the appointments of Marco Bizzarri, the former Gucci CEO, as Chairman, and Gabriele Maggio as CEO.
Before joining Elisabetta Franchi, Matteo Aceti held roles at Swarovski, Versace, Jil Sander, and Louis Vuitton. Most recently, he served as Global PR/Media Relations, Talent, and Events Lead at Swarovski from June 2022 to December 2024. Previously, he was Senior Global Communications Manager at Versace, Communications Manager at Jil Sander, and Press Relations Coordinator at Louis Vuitton.
Founded in 1998, the Elisabetta Franchi brand is now present in 78 countries with approximately 100 mono-brand stores. Its parent company, Betty Blue, achieved sales of €170 million in 2023, with an EBITDA margin of 31.8%. In the U.S., the brand opened its first boutique at Bal Harbour Shops in Miami in November 2023, signaling its intent to invest further in the U.S. market. Additionally, Elisabetta Franchi will collaborate with Saks Fifth Avenue to launch its Spring 2025 collection in department stores across New York, Beverly Hills, and Houston.
Harrys of London
British luxury men’s footwear brand Harrys of London has appointed Maud O’Keeffe as Design Director, succeeding Graeme Fidler, who had served as Creative Director in a consulting role. O’Keeffe will oversee the brand’s footwear and accessories collections.
Sean Dixon, General Manager of Harrys of London, stated: “Maud O’Keeffe is a true designer who brings status and exceptional craftsmanship to Harrys. With the upcoming launch of our revolutionary Harley Street insoles, Maud is the perfect leader for this exciting moment for the brand.”
O’Keeffe noted that the brand’s technological innovations and sustainability initiatives were key factors in her decision to join Harrys of London. “We are undergoing a comprehensive sustainability transformation, ensuring full transparency. We will use gold-standard-certified suede and leather. I also aim to introduce more sustainable materials to achieve genuine sustainability, without any greenwashing.”
Before joining Harrys of London, Maud O’Keeffe had worked in marketing since the 1990s at companies such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Patrick Cox, Alexander McQueen, and Helmut Lang. In 2011, she collaborated with a manufacturer to launch the O’Keeffe footwear collection, marking her entry into footwear design and development. In 2017, she launched the shoe line for Mr Porter’s in-house label, Mr P., and continued working with Mr Porter until April 2024.
| Sources: Official brand websites, LinkedIn pages of brands and executives, and The Impression
| Image Credit: Official brand websites and LinkedIn pages of brands and executives
| Editor: Liu Jun
