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  • Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Boosts Globalization Strategy with New Global Creative Director, David Tse

    Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Boosts Globalization Strategy with New Global Creative Director, David Tse

    Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group has announced the appointment of David Tse to the newly created role of Global Creative Director. This strategic move is intended to bolster the company’s ongoing globalization efforts.

    Strengthening Position as a Leading Chinese Luxury Brand

    David Tse will be at the forefront of solidifying Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group’s standing as a premier Chinese luxury brand. His responsibilities will encompass shaping the brand’s creative identity and spearheading its overall creative strategy across all customer interactions.

    The decision to bring Tse on board is considered quite timely as the company is in the throes of transforming and globalizing the brand. Tse’s profound understanding of luxury, remarkable creativity, and demonstrated ability to transform brand strategy into compelling narratives are expected to significantly contribute to enhancing the brand’s global reputation.

    An Experienced Leader in Creative Direction

    Tse boasts a wealth of international experience in both the luxury and lifestyle sectors, with an impressive career that spans China and various international markets. He launched his career as an entrepreneur, focusing on creative production, and subsequently led projects for an array of renowned brands, such as Burberry, Golden Goose, Uniqlo, Google, PayPal, Volvo, and Starbucks.

    In his most recent role, Tse was the Creative Director at Hermes in Shanghai, having the distinction of being the first Creative Director appointed outside the brand’s Paris head office.

    In his new role at Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, Tse plans to honor the brand’s rich heritage and encourage innovation and creativity, while always prioritizing customer needs.

    Expansion Amid Slow Domestic Demand

    Earlier this year, in response to decelerating domestic demand, market saturation, and pricing pressure in the world’s second-largest economy, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group expanded overseas, opening a flagship store at Siam Paragon in Bangkok. This movement forms part of a wider trend of Chinese and Hong Kong consumer brands seeking growth opportunities outside their traditional markets.

    Questions & Answers

    What will David Tse’s role be at Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group?
    As the Global Creative Director, Tse will be responsible for shaping the brand’s creative identity and leading its overall creative strategy across all consumer interactions.

    What experience does Tse bring to the role?
    Tse brings international experience from the luxury and lifestyle sectors, having worked in both China and international markets. He has led projects for a range of well-known brands and was most recently the Creative Director at Hermes in Shanghai.

    Why is Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group expanding overseas?
    The group is expanding overseas in response to slowing domestic demand, market saturation, and pricing pressure in the world’s second-largest economy. Opening a flagship store in Bangkok is part of these ongoing globalization efforts.

  • Hong Kong Luxury Real Estate Shuffle: Prince Jewellery Director Trades up with $6.4M Duplex Purchase

    Hong Kong Luxury Real Estate Shuffle: Prince Jewellery Director Trades up with $6.4M Duplex Purchase

    Tang Yick-ki, a director of Prince Jewellery and Sky Regal Properties, has recently engaged in significant real estate transactions in Hong Kong. He sold an apartment in Kowloon and obtained a two-story home in the vicinity for HKD50 million (US$6.4 million). These deals were completed in just over a month.

    Real Estate Transactions

    Tang sold his three-bedroom apartment, boasting 95 square meters of living space, located on the 71st floor of The Cullinan on Austin Road West in West Kowloon. The selling price was HKD46 million (US$5.9 million). Land Registry records confirmed the deal was finalized on January 5. Tang originally bought the apartment in 2016 for HKD32.5 million, meaning the property has increased in value by 41% in the intervening years.

    Roughly three weeks after this sale, Sky Regal Properties, where Tang serves as the sole director, purchased a duplex in The Waterfront, a residence within the same vicinity. According to the Land Registry, the transaction was completed last week for a cost of HKD50 million. Real estate agents specified that the duplex is 145 square meters and situated on the 45th floor.

    Prince Jewellery and the Hong Kong Property Market

    Prince Jewellery, with a 40-year history in Hong Kong, operates 16 retail stores and hosts over 60 globally recognized brands. The company’s recent real estate transactions come at a time when the Hong Kong property sector is gradually recovering from a prolonged slump. Despite persisting uncertainties, affluent homeowners like Tang are anticipated to continue seeking home upgrades.

    Some industry experts indicate that wealthier residents may choose to improve their current residences. However, this trend might not extend to those who invest in properties purely for financial gain. Additionally, home upgrades tend to become more popular during periods of market instability.

    Land Registry records also showed that another duplex in The Waterfront was sold for HKD50 million last week. The property was acquired by an entity known as Tung Tak, which had purchased it for HKD48.8 million in 2023.

    Questions & Answers

    What recent real estate transactions has Tang Yick-ki engaged in?
    Tang Yick-ki, a director of Prince Jewellery and Sky Regal Properties, has recently sold an apartment in Kowloon and bought a two-story residence nearby for HKD50 million.

    How is the Hong Kong property sector performing currently?
    The Hong Kong property sector is gradually emerging from a prolonged downturn. Despite ongoing uncertainties, affluent property owners are expected to pursue property upgrades.

    What is the trend concerning home upgrades in Hong Kong?
    Home upgrades tend to become more popular during periods of market instability. However, this trend might not apply to those who acquire property solely for investment purposes.

  • Dior taps Jonathan Anderson as creative director

    Dior taps Jonathan Anderson as creative director

    Dior has announced the appointment of Jonathan Anderson as its latest creative director. This strategic move allows Anderson to oversee the brand’s women’s, men’s, and haute couture collections.

    Historical Milestone for Dior

    This appointment marks a significant paradigm shift in Dior’s history. For the first time since its inception by Monsieur Dior, a creative director will now lead all significant creative verticals across the brand. Anderson takes over the reins from Maria Grazia Chiuri, who had been part of Dior since 2016, serving as the artistic director of women’s couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories. Chiuri’s departure from her role as the women’s wear creative director preceded Anderson’s appointment.

    About Jonathan Anderson

    Jonathan Anderson, born in 1984, is celebrated as one of the most impactful designers of his era. He established his own label in 2008, which soon caught the attention of luxury conglomerate LVMH. This led to LVMH purchasing a minority stake in his brand in 2013, followed by his appointment as creative director of the Spanish luxury house Loewe. Anderson served in this capacity for over a decade before stepping down in March this year.

    Delphine Arnault, chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture, praised Anderson in an official statement, highlighting his notable career growth since joining the LVMH group over a decade ago. Arnault expressed her belief that Anderson would infuse a creative and modern vision into Dior, drawing inspiration from the legendary story of Monsieur Dior and the unique codes he established. She assured that the experienced teams and skilled ateliers of Dior would support Anderson in bringing his creative ideas to life.

    Anticipating Anderson’s Debut Collection

    Fashion enthusiasts eagerly await the British designer’s first collection for Dior, the Dior Men Summer 2026, which is set to debut on June 27 in Paris.

    Questions & Answers

    Who is Jonathan Anderson?
    Jonathan Anderson is a renowned British designer, celebrated as one of the most impactful designers of his era. He launched his own label in 2008 and served as the creative director of Loewe for over a decade.

    What is significant about Jonathan Anderson’s appointment at Dior?
    This appointment marks a significant shift in Dior’s history. For the first time since its inception, a creative director will lead all major creative lines across the brand.

    When will Jonathan Anderson debut his first collection for Dior?
    Jonathan Anderson will debut his first collection for Dior, the Dior Men Summer 2026, on June 27 in Paris.

  • Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri steps down

    Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri steps down

    Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman to assume the role of creative director of women’s collection at Dior, has stepped down, marking one of the significant changes triggered by the LVMH board in the brand.

    Chiuri, who brought a powerful feminine touch to the brand, joined Dior in 2016, establishing a strong presence in the industry. Her final act as creative director was to oversee the Dior cruise fashion show in Rome earlier this week.

    Prior to her tenure with Dior, Chiuri brought her unique design insights and feminist approach to notable fashion powerhouses like Valentino and Fendi. Her impact was immediately felt at Dior, as seen in the collection she introduced during her inaugural show.

    Delphine Arnault, the chairman and CEO of Christian Dior, recognized Chiuri’s substantial contribution to the brand. He commented, “She has left an indelible mark on the history of Christian Dior, significantly boosting its growth and becoming the first woman to spearhead the creation of women’s collections.”

    Dior has not yet announced who will succeed Chiuri in her trailblazing role. However, Jonathan Anderson, who recently vacated the position of creative director at Loewe, has been named Dior’s menswear creative director. Fashion enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating his first collection, which will be unveiled on June 27 during the Paris Fashion Week.

    Questions & Answers

    What position did Maria Grazia Chiuri hold at Dior before her resignation?
    Maria Grazia Chiuri was the creative director of Dior’s women’s collection.

    Who has been appointed as the new menswear creative director at Dior?
    Jonathan Anderson, the former creative director at Loewe, has been appointed as the new menswear creative director at Dior.

    When can we expect Jonathan Anderson’s first collection to debut?
    Jonathan Anderson’s first collection for Dior is scheduled to debut on June 27 during the Paris Fashion Week.

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  • Grab appoints new managing director for Vietnam

    Grab appoints new managing director for Vietnam

    Grab Vietnam has appointed Alejandro Osorio as its new managing director as part of its drive to achieve “robust sustainable growth” in its local operation.

    Osorio, an American who has worked for Grab for five years, previously served as director for regional strategy and planning, operations, and most recently was managing director of Grab Thailand.

    “Alejandro’s experience in building up business strategy on a regional scale and developing high-performing local teams makes him the right leader for the next phase of growth for Grab in Vietnam,” Russell Cohen, group managing director, operations of Grab, said in a statement.

    Under Osorio’s leadership, Grab Vietnam aims to leverage the power of the superapp ecosystem to strengthen its leadership in the country. The company plans to advance technology to help improve the efficiency of its partners, offering more relevant everyday services and ecosystem-wide benefits for consumers.

    Osorio’s predecessor Nguyen Thai Hai Van left the Grab Vietnam managing director chair in April after two years of service.

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  • Alessandro Michele is stepping down as Gucci’s creative director

    Alessandro Michele is stepping down as Gucci’s creative director

    The company announced Wednesday that Alessandro Michele is stepping down as Gucci’s creative director. Michele, who has been with Gucci for 20 years, assumed the role in 2015. Before becoming creative director, he was in the company’s shoe and accessories department.

    “There are times when paths part ways because of the different perspectives each one of us may have,” Michele said in a statement released by Kering, the luxury goods brand that owns Gucci. “Today an extraordinary journey ends for me, lasting more than twenty years, within a company to which I have tirelessly dedicated all my love and creative passion.”

    Michele brought a genderfluid and maximalist aesthetic to the brand, which was a departure from Tom Ford’s sleek and provocative rebranding which saved the company in the 1990s.

    Kering wrote that Michele “has played a fundamental part in making the brand what it is today through his groundbreaking creativity, while staying true to the renowned codes of the House.”

    Dakota Johnson, Harry Styles and Lana Del Ray all led Gucci campaigns, which saw accelerated sales when Michele was in charge. Gucci’s revenue rose from just under €4 billion ($4.1 billion) in 2015 to €9.7 billion ($10 billion) in 2021. However, its success took a hit due to the pandemic, and now Gucci is looking to revamp.

    Michele described the people behind Gucci as his adopted family and thanked them in his statement. He left them with a wish: to continue to cultivate their dreams, “the subtle and intangible matter that makes life worth living.”

    “May you continue to nourish yourselves with poetic and inclusive imagery, remaining faithful to your values,” he said. “May you always live by your passions, propelled by the wind of freedom.”

    A new creative director has not yet been announced.

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  • Airbus names new general director for Vietnam

    Airbus names new general director for Vietnam

    Aircraft maker Airbus has appointed Hoang Tri Mai as its new general director for Vietnam.

    Mai will oversee all Airbus operations in Vietnam, including supporting business activities and managing relationships of the firm with the Vietnamese government, the group announced Monday.

    Mai, a Hanoian, was earlier the country director for Rolls Royce in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines.

    She will work at the Hanoi office, replacing Jean-Michel Caldagues who will retire at the end of this year after 21 years of service for Airbus.

    Anand Stanley, president of Airbus Asia-Pacific, said Vietnam is a key market for Airbus across all business sectors and has important industry partnerships in the country.

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  • General director of VietinBank appointed new chairman

    General director of VietinBank appointed new chairman

    Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) has elected General Director Tran Minh Binh as the bank’s new chairman for the 2019-2024 term.

    The appointment came Tuesday, two months after the bank’s former chairman, Le Duc Tho, was appointed secretary of Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee from July.

    Tran Minh Binh, 47, holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from National Economics University – Belgium’s ULB University.

    Binh has more than 22 years of experience working at VietinBank, including 17 years as a professional manager at the head office and branches and eight years as a senior manager.

    On the same day, the bank also assigned Nguyen Hoang Dung, its deputy general director, as general director in charge of the executive board, replacing Tran Minh Binh.

    VietinBank, the third-largest lender by total assets in Vietnam, made a consolidated net profit of VND10.81 trillion ($473.69 million) in the second quarter of 2021, up 44.52 percent compared to the same figure in 2020, according to the bank’s financial report.

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  • Standard Chartered Private Bank Loses Managing Director

    Standard Chartered Private Bank Loses Managing Director

    Standard Chartered has lost a managing director and senior private banker in Hong Kong.

    Phoebe Chow has left Standard Chartered Private Bank, sources said after more than four years with the British lender.

    When contacted, a spokesperson for the bank declined to comment on the exit.

    Chow joined Standard Chartered Private Bank in 2017 to oversee various client markets including the Philippines and Taiwan. Previously, she was a Singapore-based team leader at Credit Suisse where she worked for more than eight years.

    Standard Chartered’s private banking arm has effectively fallen under a new structure this year after it merged with retail banking and wealth management into a single consumer, private and business banking (CPBB) unit.

    Standard Chartered Private Bank was under the watch of CPBB chief executive Judy Hsu after its former head Dider von Daeniken left last year until the recent replacement hire of ex-UBS banker Raymond Ang two months ago.

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  • Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum Steps Down After 20 Years

    Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum Steps Down After 20 Years

    Jaguar has announced that Ian Callum, its Director of Design, has decided to step down from his position after 20 years. A legend within the company, as well as in the industry, Cullum, has been responsible for creating a new design philosophy and reviving the company product range with award-winning designs for the Tata Motors-owned British carmaker. Julian Thomson, who currently serves as the Creative Design Director for Jaguar, has been now been appointed as Ian Callum’s successor and will take charge as Director of Design from July 1, 2019. Callum will continue to work with Jaguar as a Design Consultant.

    Talking about his decision to step down as Jaguar’s Director of Design, Ian Callum said, “I came into this role with a mission to take Jaguar design back to where it deserved to be. It has taken 20 years, but I believe I have achieved what I set out to do. Given the strength of both our products and the design team, I feel that now is the right time to move on, both personally and professionally and explore other design projects. Designing Jaguar cars was a lifelong dream for me and I’m delighted to remain involved as a consultant for the brand.” He further added, “I have worked closely with Julian Thomson for 18 years – he is a hugely talented designer and absolutely the right person to lead Jaguar design into its next chapter.”

    Over the years, Ian Callum has been responsible for some of the most popular Jaguar cars, including the F-Type two-seater sports car, the XE, XF and XJ saloons, and the company’s first-ever SUVs, the F-Pace, which as soon followed by its younger sibling the E-Pace. Cullum most recent creation and perhaps the most award-winning model has been the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. This year the first all-electric Jaguar bagged the 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year, and World Green Car awards.

    Talking about his creations with Jaguar, Callum said, “One of my biggest highlights was creating XF because it represented the beginning of a new era moving Jaguar from tradition to contemporary design – it was a significant turning point in our story. Designing the F-Type was a dream come true for me, and I-PACE was an opportunity to create something hugely innovative that would really challenge the perception of Jaguar – and its success is a testament to just how far the brand has come.”

    Like the cars he has designed over the years, Ian’s journey has been equally spectacular as well. A journey which began back in 1979 with Ford. During the first 12 years of his spent at Ford Design Studios, Callum contribution led to the creation of models like – Ford Escort RS Cosworth and the Ghia Via Concept. After Ford, Callum left the corporate environment to join Peter Stevens and Tom Walkinshaw to form TWR Design as Chief Designer in 1991. At TWR, Callum was partially responsible for the Aston Martin DB7, probably the design he is currently most famous for, followed by the Vanquish. In fact, with TWR, Callum has also worked for other automotive clients like – Volvo, Mazda and HSV and in 1998, he designed the Nissan R390.

    Finally, in 1999, following the death of Jaguar’s then design director, Geoff Lawson, Callum was appointed to succeed him, which back then was a subsidiary Ford Motor Company. At that time, for a short stint, Ian continued to manage Aston Martin Design as well and is said to have played a key role in the creation of both the DB9 and Vantage, however, they are attributed to Henrik Fisker. At Jaguar Design Ian and his team, amongst others, also created the R-Coupe, RD-6 and C-X75 concepts. However, the first all-new model was the XK, followed by the XF and XJ sedans and then in September 2012 the much-anticipated F-Type was launched, Jaguar’s first 2-seater sports car since the iconic E-Type. This was followed later by the Jaguar XE, which Ian designed for a very competitive segment. A bold statement for Jaguar using Ian’s established design philosophy.

    Talking about replacing Ian Callum as the Director of Design, Julian Thomson, Creative Design Director, Jaguar said, “I’m honored to take up the position of Director of Design, Jaguar. It will be a great privilege to lead such a talented team and continue to build on our success. Automotive design has always been fast moving, but today it is changing at a rate faster than ever before. I’m passionate about ensuring Jaguar Design leads that change, and the cars that will drive our future.”

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  • Apple appoints former Microsoft executive

    Apple appoints former Microsoft executive

    Apple has appointed Microsoft’s former Corporate Vice President Sam Jadallah to lead the “Home” products category at Apple. Even though Apple has not officially announced the appointment, Jadallah updated his LinkedIn bio to read – “Working on Home at Apple”, reflecting his new role with the iPhone-maker. However, along with Apple, Jadallah has also been tight-lipped over his hiring by the company.

    After Microsoft, Jadallah ran a smart lock start-up called ‘Otto’ that shut down in January 2018.

    “Hiring Jadallah is the latest signal that Apple plans to get serious about its own efforts in the ‘Home’ category,” the report said.

    Apple has a range of “Home’ products including HomeKit — its software service that connects with a variety of third-party products; and HomePod — a smart speaker for the home with voice recognition and music.

    Currently, Apple’s HomePod constitutes a small share of the home products market as compared to Amazon’s Echo and Google Home.

    Recently, Apple acquired a voicetech start-up called Pullstring to strengthen Siri against Amazon’s Alexa.

    “That purchase could help the smartphone-maker become the centre of a connected living room,” the report added.

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  • Pandora appoints Alexander Lacik as chief executive officer

    Pandora appoints Alexander Lacik as chief executive officer

    The Board of Directors of Pandora has appointed Alexander Lacik as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lacik’s strong track-record as a consumer marketer and brand architect will help drive the execution of Programme now and assert Pandora’s position as the world’s largest jewellery brand. He will join Pandora as soon as possible.

    Alexander Lacik (54) brings international experience from growth and brand building in global consumer companies. He joins Pandora from the position as CEO of Britax Ltd., a world leader in child safety products. Prior to this, he was President of North America at RB (Reckitt Benckiser) from 2013-2017 and has held key management positions with the leading global consumer goods company since 2004. Previously, Lacik held positions in sales and marketing with Procter & Gamble from 1992 to 2004.

    At RB, Lacik contributed significantly to the company’s growth turnaround in a competitive global consumer business where brand distinction and brand equity are critical components. He successfully drove strategic brand positioning and above market growth in the group’s largest region with more than USD 3.5 billion in revenue and a full value chain. Lacik has lived and worked in five countries and managed businesses in regions across the world, covering manufacturing, product development, sales, marketing, and retail partnering.

    Peder Tuborgh, Chairman of the Board of Directors says: “I am delighted that we have secured Alexander Lacik as CEO of Pandora. Alexander is a strong match for our recently announced strategic direction and will be instrumental in executing Programme NOW. Alexander is a brilliant marketer and brand architect and has throughout his career shown himself as a great leader and a highly effective executor. His skills and experience will be key to revitalising the Pandora brand.”

    “I am honoured and excited to join Pandora. Pandora is an incredible company that has grown to be the world’s largest jewellery brand at unprecedented speed. I am encouraged by the current direction with a strong focus on brand reignition to restore growth. These are business aspects that I am particularly passionate about, and I look forward to joining and supporting the management team in the execution of Programme NOW”, says Alexander Lacik.

    Following the appointment, The Executive Management team of Pandora will consist of Alexander Lacik (CEO), Anders Boyer (CFO) and Jeremy Schwartz (COO). Until Lacik joins, the joint leadership of Anders Boyer and Jeremy Schwartz will continue unchanged.

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  • Farfetch announces the first chief fashion officer

    Farfetch announces the first chief fashion officer

    The close relationship between luxury e-tailer Farfetch and Browns, the physical store that it acquired back in 2015, has become even closer with Browns’ CEO Holli Rogers having taken up a new role at the parent company. Rogers will stay on as the senior manager at Browns but has also become chief fashion officer at Farfetch, which will see her working closely with the e-tailer’s marketing, styling and VM teams “to ensure the company’s fashion approach is incorporated into the DNA of the overall customer experience of the brand”.

    Rogers, who was formerly Net-a-Porter fashion director, has had an impressive career at the cutting edge of both luxury physical retail and high-end e-tail. She has also worked at Neiman Marcus and Chanel.

    Farfetch CEO and founder José Neves said she “could bring her unique experience to the broader Farfetch business at an executive level. [Her] reputation, high regard among fashion CEOs, influencers and the wider industry, her relationships and her incredible aesthetic will be a huge benefit to Farfetch.”

    It is clear that she’s highly regarded at the company after having overseen a number of success for Browns from the opening of the Browns East location to the revamped visual image, launching collaborations at home and abroad and continuing to nurture new names.

  • Guess announces new CEO

    Guess announces new CEO

    Iconic American fashion brand Guess Inc. announced that its chief executive officer and director, Victor Herrero, is leaving the company effective February 2, 2019. Carlos Alberini, who served as Guess’s president and chief operating officer more than ten years ago, will replace Herrero.

    “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Victor for his contributions during his tenure and wish him well in his endeavors,” said Maurice Marciano, chairman of the board.

    Alberini has been appointed as the new CEO and a Director of the company, “effective upon his separation from his current employer,” said Guess in a press release detailing the new hire on January 28.

    Alberini served as COO for the Californian company from 2000 to 2010. He was co-CEO of Restoration Hardware until 2014, and a director on the board of Restoration Hardware from 2010 until present.

    More recently, Alberini has been the Chairman and CEO of Lucky Brand, a role he took on from 2014.

    “I am very excited to have Carlos coming back as CEO at Guess. He was instrumental in building the international business in Europe and Asia during his 10-year tenure with the company,” said Maurice Marciano.

    The company also announced that Marciano has agreed to remain as Chief Creative Officer. His employment will be “at will”, according to Guess.
    During the transition, Marciano will be acting as interim Chief Executive Officer.

    In 2017-2018 financial year, Guess witnessed a steady growth track in Asia, notably in China.

    In March last year, the brand said it planned to open 60 stores in Asia, after also opening its first subsidiary in Singapore.

    In same financial year, the group said it improved its gross margin in Asia by 470 base points, with sales up 40 percent.

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  • Where will Apple retail chief go after resigning?

    Where will Apple retail chief go after resigning?

    Within hours of the announcement that Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts was to leave the role in April, speculation was rife as to where she is headed. Ahrendts, who led the fine-tuning of Apple’s retail business for five years after turning around British fashion house Burberry, has a stellar career in the luxury business. Several fashion industry sources have speculated she may be headed to take the helm of Ralph Lauren.

    In a statement announcing the Apple retail chief’s departure, the company said she is leaving the company “for new personal and professional pursuits”. CEO Tim Cook described her departure as “bittersweet”.

    During her time with Apple, Ahrendts – who was once tipped to take over Cook’s role in the future – has subtly redefined the Apple stores from high-end tech shops into community hubs. She took the renowned Apple Store concept created by predecessor Ron Johnson, dropped the “store” from its title and expanded the network to 506 physical stores and another 35 online.

    “Her vision includes stores as gathering spaces and hubs for creativity,” observed Daphne Howard of Retail Dive.

    “While Johnson is credited with initiating the brick-and-mortar strategy that has been the backbone of Apple’s hardware sales, including minimalist spaces conducive to product demos and customer education, Ahrendts has taken that [a step further].”

    Apple’s retail business will now be overseen by Deirdre O’Brien, the company’s senior VP of people, who will add retail to an already long list of responsibilities including talent development, Apple University, recruiting, employee relations, business partnerships, benefits, compensation and inclusion, and diversity.

    Some might see that as a sign Apple is reducing its focus on its retail business, although O’Brien might be considered something of an Apple acolyte, having been with the company for 30 years.