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Tag: Bijenkorf

  • Sean Hill Appointed As New CEO Of De Bijenkorf: A New Chapter For Central Group

    Sean Hill Appointed As New CEO Of De Bijenkorf: A New Chapter For Central Group

    Central Group has announced the appointment of Sean Hill as the new chief executive for the Dutch department store, De Bijenkorf. Hill, a member of the fourth generation of the Chirathivat family, will begin his new role effective immediately.

    Sean Hill’s Background

    A scion of the Chirathivat family, Hill is the eldest grandson of Central Group’s co-founder Samrit Chirathivat. He brings to his new role over 15 years of comprehensive retail experience. His previous positions span several countries and include roles such as retail expansion manager at Rinascente in Italy, and Chief Operating Officer of Germany’s KaDeWe Group. Most recently, Hill served as Managing Director of Central Group Europe, where he was responsible for overseeing investments, managing store development, and handling commercial real estate.

    Upon his appointment, Hill expressed his gratitude and optimism, stating, “It is an honor to build on the foundation laid by the team and the customer-first approach that defines De Bijenkorf. I see many opportunities to develop the business further.”

    Central Group’s Stake in Selfridges

    De Bijenkorf is a part of the Selfridges Group, where Central Group has recently become a shareholder. The corporation’s European operations include Selfridges in the UK, Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, KaDeWe, Oberpollinger, and Alsterhaus in Germany, Illum in Denmark, Globus in Switzerland, and of course, De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands.

    Questions & Answers

    Who is the new chief executive of De Bijenkorf?
    Sean Hill, a fourth-generation member of the Chirathivat family, has been appointed as the new chief executive of De Bijenkorf.

    What is Sean Hill’s previous experience in the retail sector?
    Hill brings with him over 15 years of experience in the retail sector. His previous roles include retail expansion manager at Rinascente in Italy, COO of Germany’s KaDeWe Group, and MD of Central Group Europe.

    Which other retail stores are part of the Selfridges Group?
    Apart from De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, the Selfridges Group includes Selfridges in the UK, Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, KaDeWe, Oberpollinger, and Alsterhaus in Germany, Illum in Denmark, and Globus in Switzerland.

  • John Lewis going Dutch with de Bijenkorf shop-in-shops

    John Lewis going Dutch with de Bijenkorf shop-in-shops

    UK department store chain John Lewis has announced its first physical foray into the European retail market, with seven stores planned for the Netherlands over the next two years.

    John Lewis has announced it will have a physical presence in Europe by opening shop-in-shops within seven branches of Dutch department store, de Bijenkorf. Starting with openings in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague flagships in spring 2016, the UK business will then enter Eindhoven and Utrecht by the end of next year, and in Amstelveen and Maastricht in 2017.

    Having sold and shipped its goods in Europe for a number of years, via its online operations, John Lewis’s new strategy is the first significant sign that it sees its next stage of growth coming from outside the UK.

    It comes after John Lewis opened 14 shop-in-shops across Singapore and the Philippines earlier this year, following the launch of a similar format in South Korea in 2014.

    Andy Street, managing director at John Lewis, called de Bijenkorf “the perfect partner to enable us to bring John Lewis to a new customer base and country”.

    “Our existing shop-in-shops in Singapore, the Philippines and South Korea have been well received and are trading well,” he added.

    “Whilst we remain committed to our UK physical expansion we hope to announce more international collaborations in 2016.”

    The John Lewis departments will be between 300 sq ft and 500 sq ft, with the retailer’s in-house store design team responsible for designing the look and feel of the retail space.