GU
Japanese fashion group Fast Retailing has announced the appointment of Italian designer Francesco Risso as Creative Director of its brand GU.
In his new role, Francesco Risso will be responsible for shaping the creative direction for GU’s next phase of development. His first collection for the brand is scheduled to debut in the Fall/Winter 2026 season.
Risso most recently served as Creative Director at Italian fashion house Marni, a role he held since joining the brand in 2016 until his departure in June 2025. Notably, he led the collaboration between Uniqlo and Marni in 2022. Following his appointment at GU, he will also be working with Uniqlo again to develop a new collaborative collection expected to launch in 2026.
Risso studied fashion design in Florence, New York, and London, and previously worked for ten years at Italian luxury brand Prada. A passionate educator, he has also served as a guest lecturer at several leading art and design institutions worldwide.
SKIMS
Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS has appointed Kim Seymour as its first-ever Chief People Officer.
In this role, Seymour will report to CEO and Co-Founder Jens Grede and collaborate closely with him to align talent operations with the company’s broader business strategy.
A seasoned professional in the field of human resources, Seymour previously founded her own consulting firm, Leadership Amplified. Prior to that, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer at e-commerce platform Etsy, and held senior HR roles at American Express and Home Depot Supply.
Vestiaire Collective
Fanny Moizant, President and Co-Founder of European secondhand fashion and luxury goods platform Vestiaire Collective, is stepping down from the company.
In a social media post, Moizant stated, “I am leaving the company due to recent organizational restructuring. This was not a decision I made, and it was unexpected, but I accept that it marks the end of an extraordinary journey.”
Moizant is a graduate of the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) and NEOMA Business School. In 2009, she co-founded Vestiaire Collective along with Sébastien Fabre, Sophie Hersan, Alexandre Cognard, Henrique Fernandes, and Christian Jorge.
The platform was originally named “Vestiaire de Copines” and was rebranded as “Vestiaire Collective” in 2012 to support its international growth strategy.
Of the original founding team, only Sophie Hersan remains with the company, currently serving as Fashion Director.
Kendra Scott
American fashion jewelry brand Kendra Scott has appointed Chris Blakeslee as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 12.
Blakeslee brings extensive experience from the athletic apparel sector. He most recently served as CEO of Gap Inc.’s brand Athleta, stepping down in August 2025.
From 2017, he served as President of Bella+Canvas and its offshoot brand Alo Yoga, where he helped grow Alo Yoga’s revenue from under USD 50 million to over USD 1 billion by 2022.
Kendra Scott, the brand’s founder, Chief Vision Officer, and Executive Chairwoman, noted that Blakeslee will be responsible for driving brand growth and strengthening the overall brand ecosystem, integrating products, environments, communities, and culture seamlessly.
IKKS
French ready-to-wear retailer IKKS has appointed Johann Bondu as Chief Marketing Officer.
In his new role, Bondu will focus on driving brand transformation, strengthening consistency in creative messaging, and placing marketing at the core of the brand’s growth strategy. He will work closely with IKKS CEO Santiago Cucci and teams across the organization.
Bondu began his career in 2000 as PR Director Assistant at football club FC Nantes, and that same year joined Surg Session as Event Manager. In 2001, he became Event Coordinator at Adidas, then spent 13 years at Puma Group, where he held positions including Director of Sports Marketing and Director of Marketing & Communications.
From 2015 to 2020, he served as Global Marketing Director at Fox Racing. Between 2022 and 2024, he was Global Head of Marketing at Levi Strauss & Co., and most recently held the role of Global Marketing & Communications Director at G-Star.
Maison&Objet / Safi
Safi, the organizer of French design trade show Maison & Objet Paris, has appointed Vincent Lhoste as Chief Executive Officer.
Lhoste previously served as CEO of blockchain company Kalima Blockchain and spent nearly a decade at Reed Exhibitions, where he played a key role in the group’s international expansion. He was responsible for launching WTM Latin America in Brazil and WTM Connect Asia in Malaysia.
In a statement, Safi noted that Lhoste brings deep expertise in B2B operations, international strategy, organizational transformation, and innovation project management, particularly in the tech, digital, and services sectors.
Bed Bath & Beyond
U.S. home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has appointed Marcus Lemonis as Chief Executive Officer.
Lemonis, who currently serves as Executive Chairman of the company’s board, will now hold both roles. Over the next 12 months, he will lead efforts to realize USD 25 million in additional cost savings through synergies from recent mergers.
The company also plans to continue its acquisition strategy over the next year. In November 2025, Bed Bath & Beyond agreed to acquire The Brand House Collective for nearly USD 27 million.
The retailer filed for bankruptcy protection in 2023, and portions of its assets were acquired by online retailer Overstock for approximately USD 21.5 million. In August 2025, the parent company of brands including Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and buybuy BABY was officially renamed Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.
| Source: Official press releases, CBNEWS, FashionNetwork
| Image Credit: Official press releases, individual social media accounts
| Editor: LeZhi
