Richemont appoints Marty Wikstrom as CEO of its Fashion and Accessories Businesses
29 MAY 2009
The Board of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Martha (Marty) Wikstrom as Chief Executive Officer of the Group's Fashion and Accessories Businesses with immediate effect. Ms. Wikstrom's principal area of responsibility will be Richemont's Alfred Dunhill, Lancel, Chloé, Azzedine Aläia and Shanghai Tang Maisons. She will be based in London and will report to Johann Rupert, Richemont's Executive Chairman.
Commenting on Ms. Wikstrom's appointment, Johann Rupert said:
‘I am delighted that Marty has accepted our invitation to join the Group in an executive capacity to head up our fashion and accessories businesses. The creation of this new position and Marty’s appointment reaffirms Richemont’s commitment to our fashion and accessories Maisons®. Marty brings to Richemont her considerable experience and knowledge of how to build and nurture enduring consumer relationships across a breadth of brands and product categories. She has the proven ability to translate extraordinary customer service into business expansion.’
Ms. Wikstrom has served as a non-executive director of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA since 2005. She will remain a member of the Board of the Company in an executive capacity. She has extensive experience in speciality retailing, having been President of Nordstrom's Full Line Store Group in the USA and Managing Director of Harrods Limited. Ms. Wikstrom is a founding partner in Atelier Management, LLC, which specialises in the acquisition and development of luxury brands.
About Richemont
Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international brands or ‘Maisons’, which are managed independently of one another, recognising their individuality and uniqueness. The businesses operate in five areas: Jewellery Maisons, being Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist watchmakers, which is made up of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, Officine Panerai and A. Lange & Söhne; Writing instrument manufacturers - Montblanc and Montegrappa; Leather and accessories Maisons, being Alfred Dunhill and Lancel; and Other businesses, which includes, specifically, Chloé as well as other, smaller Maisons and watch component manufacturing activities for third parties.
In addition to its luxury goods business, Richemont currently holds a 19.4 per cent interest in British American Tobacco.