Personnel Updates | Tod’s Taps Chanel Exec as CEO; Adrian Cheng Exits New World Development; New CFO at Puma; Fusalp Names CEO

10月 10, 2024

Tod’s

The board of directors of Italian luxury group Tod’s has appointed John Galantic as the group’s Chief Executive Officer, based in Milan. He will also join the board of directors of Tod’s.

In his new position, John Galantic’s main responsibility will be to enhance the group’s global growth potential. He will succeed Tod’s Group founder Diego Della Valle, who will retain his role as Chairman of the board.

With extensive experience in the luxury goods industry, John Galantic has held executive positions in markets such as the United States, Italy, and France. Prior to joining Tod’s Group, he was the President and Chief Operating Officer of French luxury company Chanel Inc. He joined Chanel in 2006 as the company’s President and COO, focusing on the U.S. market. Starting in 2017, he took on more global leadership roles, such as implementing and leading the company’s digital team, Integrated Platform (now renamed Global Digital Services). In addition, he collaborated with Bruno Menard to develop the brand’s official website, Chanel.com, and launched a series of digital initiatives. He also led Chanel’s sustainability and social commitment teams, investing in the construction of the Sunrun solar photovoltaic network, establishing the Chanel Community, and launching the Racial Justice Fund.

John Galantic holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His career began at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he held various marketing and sales roles in Italy, the UK, and the U.S. Before joining Chanel, John Galantic was President of Coty US LLC and President of Coty Beauty LLC. At the same time, he has served as a non-executive director of Ferrari Group and a board member of Bacardi Limited.

The Tod’s brand was founded by the Della Valle family in the 1920s and is known for its high-quality leather goods. Currently, in addition to the flagship Tod’s brand, Tod’s Group also owns brands such as Hogan, Roger Vivier, and Fay.

With the support of L Catterton, the world’s leading consumer-focused private equity firm under the French luxury giant LVMH, Tod’s Group was privatized and delisted from the Milan Stock Exchange on June 7 this year.

New World Development

On September 26, New World Development announced that Adrian Cheng has stepped down as CEO. He has also been reappointed from Executive Director and Executive Vice Chairman to Non-Executive Director and Non-Executive Vice Chairman, and will no longer serve as a member of the Executive Committee or as Chairman and member of the Sustainability Committee.

At the same time, Adrian Cheng has also resigned from relevant positions at New World Department Store China, no longer serving as Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the company. Executive Director Zhang Huire has been appointed as Chairman.

New World Development’s former Chief Operating Officer, Ma Siu Cheung, will succeed Adrian Cheng as CEO, joining the Sustainability Committee and serving as its Chairman. He will also serve as Executive Director of New World Department Store China.

Ma Siu Cheung was appointed as Executive Director of New World Development in July 2022 and assumed the role of COO in January 2024. In January 2014, he joined the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as Deputy Secretary for the Development Bureau and was appointed Secretary of the Development Bureau in February 2017, serving until his term ended in June 2017. Ma Siu Cheung joined China Resources (Group) Co., Ltd. as an external director in 2022. He is also a fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK), the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK), and an academician of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences.

According to the latest annual report released by New World Development, in September this year, the company reached an agreement with Adrian Cheng’s wholly-owned AC Group Limited, under which AC Group acquired all the shares of K11 Commercial Management Group Company Limited, K11 Loyalty Program Limited, K11 Gentry Club Limited, Globo Travel Agency Limited, and Love Deliver Limited for HKD 209 million. These companies primarily operate and manage K11-branded properties and related businesses. As part of the sale, the parties also signed licensing agreements and trademark licensing agreements.

Puma

German sports giant Puma has appointed Markus Neubrand as Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, succeeding Hubert Hinterseher, who will leave the company by the end of the year.

Markus Neubrand will also join Puma’s management committee.

Markus Neubrand’s most recent position was as CFO of American fashion brand Guess. He has also held executive positions at MCM Worldwide and Hugo Boss, where, between 2014 and 2020, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Hugo Boss’s U.S. subsidiary.

Fusalp

French ski apparel brand Fusalp has appointed Pascal Conte-Jodra as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Alexandre Fauvet, who stepped down last year.

In his new role, Pascal Conte-Jodra aims to “inject fresh creative and operational energy” into Fusalp, with specific responsibilities including strengthening the brand’s influence in both the French and international markets.

Pascal Conte-Jodra has over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. He began his career in 2003 as a financial analyst at Hermès USA and joined designer brand Carolina Herrera in 2007 as Director of Retail Operations and Strategic Planning. He has also served as Vice President of Finance at Marc Jacobs, General Manager of Mugler fashion business, and CEO of Y/Project.

| Source: Official press releases, Fashion Network
| Image Credit: Brand officials, personal social media of various executives
| Editor: LeZhi