EXCLUSIVE: Versace Plucks Top Leather Goods Executive

Versace’s new American owner has reached into Dior and plucked a key executive with extensive leather goods experience, WWD has learned. Arnaud Bazin, managing director of leather goods, accessories and shoes at Christian Dior Couture since 2013, is joining Versace as senior vice president of collection merchandising, effective May 2, according to a Milan source. It is understood the role, a new one, will involve managing a range of product lines, and report to Jonathan Akeroyd, Versace’s chief executive officer. A discreet, driven executive, Bazin had joined Dior from Chanel, where he held a variety of positions in leather goods marketing and product development, ultimately rising to merchandising director at Chanel fashion. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has also worked at Hermès, Procter & Gamble and Cassina. At Dior, he managed the creation, product development, merchandising and product strategies for leather goods, accessories and shoes. The hire suggests that Versace is gearing up for an expansion push under Capri Holdings, formerly Michael Kors Holdings Ltd., which snapped up the Italian fashion house for $2.1 billion, or 1.8 billion euro, last September. Kors purchased Jimmy Choo in 2017 for $1.2 billion, its first volley in constructing a conglomerate. “With the acquisition of Versace, we have now created

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More...

from WWDWWD http://bit.ly/2GyRwLI