Only
Finn Poulsen, CEO of Only, a brand under Danish fashion group Bestseller, has stepped down from his role. However, he will remain as Chairman of the Board for the Only brand, CEO and partner of Only Stores, and a member of Bestseller’s Board of Directors.
Effective August 1, Søren Hedensted will assume the position of Brand Director, with Deputy Director Heidi Langager assisting him.
Søren Hedensted has worked at Only for over seven years, most recently serving as Director of E-commerce. Heidi Langager is a long-standing employee with over 22 years at the company, most recently serving as Director of Purchasing and Product.
In addition to Søren Hedensted and Heidi Langager, Only’s management team includes:
- Margaretha Thygesen Mikkelsen, Director of Purchasing and Design
- Tonni Korsgaard, CFO
- Victor Hallgren Pinholt, Brand Director of Only & Sons
- Allan Svinth, Retail Director of Only
Poulsen will continue serving as Chairman of Only and as CEO and partner of Only Stores. He also remains on the board of Bestseller, Only’s parent company.
Zara Kids
Spanish group Inditex has announced new leadership appointments for its fast fashion brand Zara’s children’s line, Zara Kids:
- Lorenzo Marcheselli has been appointed Head of Zara Kids
- Bárbara Bastianelli will succeed him as General Manager of Inditex’s Italian subsidiary
Since 2018, Lorenzo Marcheselli has served as General Manager of Inditex Italy. Prior to that, he led Inditex’s operations in the UK and Ireland and was Commercial Director for Zara in Europe. He succeeds Begoña Costas, who has worked at Inditex for over 40 years.
Bárbara Bastianelli, formerly International Commercial Director for Zara in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, will take over Marcheselli’s previous position.
Palm Angels
U.S.-based brand management company Bluestar Alliance has appointed Luca Donnini as General Manager of its Italian streetwear brand Palm Angels and promoted Alberto Furlan to Head of Design.
In his new role, Luca Donnini will focus on expanding Palm Angels’ global presence, defining its product strategy, and exploring new categories.
Donnini was most recently Co-CEO of SportLux and has over 40 years of experience in the global fashion industry, having served as International President of Max Mara, President of Guess Europe, and CEO of Temperley London. Bluestar Alliance has formed a strategic partnership with SportLux, a global brand development platform whose portfolio includes brands owned by Bluestar Alliance such as Off-White, Thomas Pink, and Diadora.
Alberto Furlan, currently the brand’s menswear designer, joined Palm Angels in 2017 and has worked closely with founder Francesco Ragazzi in shaping the brand’s creative identity.
Balzac Paris
French fashion brand Balzac Paris has appointed Kim Coiffier as Style Director.
In her new role, Kim Coiffier will help guide Balzac Paris in preserving its brand identity while transitioning toward a more premium market positioning.
Coiffier has previously worked as a stylist for luxury houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Saint Laurent. Since 2019, she has been an active consultant in the fashion and beauty industries.
Founded in 2014 by Chrysoline and Victorien de Gastines, along with Charles Fourmaux, Balzac Paris is a B Corp–certified company that became a mission-driven enterprise in 2022. The brand prioritizes European production and is committed to sustainable fashion. In 2023, it recorded €24 million (approximately $25.9 million) in sales, representing a 30% year-over-year increase.
To strengthen its growth, Balzac Paris is expanding its brand ecosystem. In addition to its womenswear collections, the brand relaunched its menswear line in 2024 and introduced a beauty line.
Bexley
French menswear brand Bexley has appointed Sébastien Fayet as General Manager, succeeding Bruno Luppens.
In his new role, Sébastien Fayet will be responsible for continuing to drive the company’s profitability, accelerating international expansion (particularly in Europe), and enhancing the brand’s appeal.
Fayet brings extensive experience in the fashion and retail sectors, having spent over 20 years at Lacoste. He joined Lacoste in 2002 and held several senior management roles both in France and abroad, overseeing the brand’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2020, he was appointed CEO of Lacoste France.
Bruno Luppens became General Manager of Bexley in 2017, shortly after the brand was acquired by LBO France, an investment fund. Under his leadership, Bexley evolved from a shoe-focused label into a full-fledged menswear brand, with apparel now accounting for over 50% of its sales, up from 25% at the time of the acquisition.
In 2024, Bexley recorded revenue of approximately €80 million ($86.3 million), with 30% of the total coming from online channels.
| Source: Official press releases, FashionNetwork
| Image Credit: Company websites, personal social media accounts
| Editor: LeZhi
