arious times over the next two decades. His bold experiments in product design, distribution and marketing, along with his knack for numbers and efficiency, turned a family shoe business into a globally recognised brand. Vans was sold in 1988 and went public in 1991 before it was acquired by shoe and clothing group VF Corporation in 2004. VF Corporation also owns the brands The North Face, Timberland and JanSport. There are more than 300 Vans stores around the globe today. The Daily Edited co-founder Alyce Tran exits business Alyce Tran has sold her stake in accessories brand The Daily Edited (TDE) to former business partner Tania Liu for an undisclosed amount, bringing the legal battle over Tran’s alleged misuse of company funds to an end. Liu launched legal action against Tran in 2019, claiming Tran charged hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses to the business and used TDE staff to build up her homewares brand In The Roundhouse in breach of her duties as a company director.  Liu is dropping the litigation efforts as a result of the sale.  Tran and Liu started TDE in 2014 when they were both working full-time as corporate lawyers at Allens in Perth. It’s now a multimillion-dollar brand selling handbags, suitcases, personalised phone covers, pet wares and other accessories. Tran said she is focused on growing In The Roundhouse, which specialises in plates and tableware, and exploring opportunities to launch new businesses in the fashion and beauty space. Estée Lauder appoints former Biden staffer to newly created management role The Estée Lauder Companies has appointed Meridith Webster to the newly created position of executive vice president for global communications and public affairs. Webster, who will take on the role effective May 17, will report jointly to the company’s executive chair William P. Lauder, and Fabrizio Freda, president and chief executive officer. Webster will lead the company’s global communications and public affairs strategic agenda in the advancement and protection of Estée Lauder’s business interests and corporate reputation globally and strengthen relationships to drive value for key stakeholders. She will also serve as strategic advisor to the company’s executive leadership team, the board of directors and the Lauder family on a variety of critical topics. Her appointment follows the upcoming retirement of Alexandra Trower, the company’s head of global communications, and departure of Maria Cristina González Noguera, head of global public affairs. “Meridith’s appointment will continue to enable and enhance our delivery of thoughtful, effective communications to our valued global stakeholders as she leads these talented teams to new heights,” Freda said. Webster formerly served as special assistant to the President in the Biden administration and chief of staff to the Domestic Policy Council. During the Obama administration, she served as senior advisor to two White House chiefs of staff, Rahm Emanuel and Pete Rouse. The General Store welcomes Scentre Group design lead Independent marketing agency, The General Store, has appointed former Scentre Group design leader Reid Nakou to the position of head of retail and design. Nakou led architectural design at Scentre Group, and in his nearly 11 years with the business he worked on major projects across Australia and New Zealand including Westfield Chermside, Queensland’s Pacific Fair and Westfield Newmarket in Auckland. “Reid is a powerhouse strategic thinker and a world-class creative leader. His passion for bringing the future of retail to life for customers is something our clients are going to absolutely love,” Danny Lattouf, The General Store’s partner and chief strategy officer, said in a statement.  Lattouf said the agency, whose clients include retailers such as Barbeques Galore, BWS, Freedom and Rebel, has invested in architectural and interiors talent to grow the retail and experience design arm, with the recent addition of Paul Morrison as project director, alongside senior interior designers Kristy Mackay, Ana Marre and Anna Tang.  “Retail is in a time of massive disruption. It’s exciting to be bringing such a talented team of design innovators to the table to help seize the opportunities,” he said.