Gucci, Valentino appoint executives in Greater China
The Tiffany & Co executive Laurent Cathala, is set to lead Gucci’s fashion business in Greater China as the label’s new president.
Cathala will start his role with Gucci in late June and will be based in Shanghai. In his new role, he will report directly to CEO Marco Bizzarri. Prior to Gucci, he held extensive working experience at major international brands, including Givenchy, Guerlain and Mac Cosmetics. Cathala recently worked at Tiffany & Co as president of Greater China and the North Asia region.
At Valentino, Janice Lam – a former Prada and Dunhill executive – will report to the company’s CEO Jacopo Venturini, overseeing the expansion in Greater China.
“In her new role, Janice will act as an ambassador of our identity, while inspiring a sense of belonging, company passion, retail engagement and client experience with the final objective of developing the best and unique team in Greater China,” the brand said in a statement
Catch boss stepping down, Wesfarmers begins restructure
Catch MD, Pete Sauerborn (pictured), is to step down as the company is set to move from Wesfarmers’ Kmart Group to join the data and digital division, Wesfarmers OneDigital, this July.
Sauerborn will leave the business on June 30 after two years leading the company. Meanwhile, the company will be looking for a new MD, who will report to Nicole Sheffield, head of Wesfarmers OneDigital. The division currently includes the OnePass subscription program and the Advanced Analytics Centre.
MD of Wesfarmers, Rob Scott, said the move will “bring together the group’s pure business”, attracting digital talent while developing logical synergies between the group’s shared data platform, advanced analytics team and subscription capabilities.
The Australian e-commerce marketplace was acquired by Wesfarmers in 2019 for $230 million. Despite the online shopping boom during the pandemic, the business recorded earnings before tax loss of $44 million during the six months ended December 31 last year. At the same time, the gross transaction value increased by 1 per cent.
The company said more detail on Wesfarmers OneDigital will be disclosed at the Strategy Briefing Day this June. OneDigital has declined further comment until then.
McDonald’s Australia appoints new CEO
McDonald’s Australia has appointed a new CEO, at the same time announcing current boss Andrew Gregory will be moving to the global role of corporate senior vice president, global franchising officer, on 1 May 2022.
Antoni Martinez, a McDonald’s Australia alumni and current managing director of McDonald’s Korea, takes up the Australian managing director and CEO mantle.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to McDonald’s Australia,” said Martinez. “I stepped outside of the Australian market to gain valuable international experience and have watched with a great sense of homegrown pride the continued growth and innovation of the Australian business.
“I’m energised by this opportunity to push that trajectory and ensure Macca’s continues to do what it does best: feed and foster our communities.”
Martinez said providing opportunities for skills and career development remains an important focus for the business.
Both executives joined the business as crew members and have worked their way up to senior leadership positions.
Accent Group’s head of customer experience exits
Accent Group’s head of customer experience Michelle Yanez-Olivares stepped down from her position earlier this week after two years in the role.
Yanez-Olivares said she is proud of the work she accomplished in the role, which took Accent Group from a customer satisfaction score of 75 to 90, on top of the massive expansion of not only her team, but the business as a whole.
“To get here, the team & I went through a hell of a journey,” Yanez-Olivares wrote on her Linkedin. “It wasn’t easy, [and] it took a lot of grit, but we got there in the end.”
Yanez-Olivares also thanked Accent Group’s general manager of supply chain and technology Tim Greenstein for his support, mentorship and leadership.
“Tim believed in me and encouraged me, even in my moments of doubt.”
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