signer at Celine in 2014. “I am confident that Matthieu Blazy’s wealth of experience and broad cultural background will allow him to bring his creative impetus to the task of carrying on the legacy of Bottega Veneta,” Kering CEO and chairperson Francois-Henri Pinault said. The announcement of Lee’s departure last week took the industry by surprise. The 35-year-old graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins was recruited more than three years ago to reignite interest in the brand among younger audiences. He is credited with raising its profile and sales growth by drawing up popular accessories, including pillowy leather clutch handbags and slip-on heels. Kering has a history of recruiting from its own ranks, including boosting the popularity of its star Gucci brand by naming a relatively unknown accessories designer, Alessandro Michele, from within that brand as creative director in 2015. The group and its large French luxury peers have had a strong sales recovery from the coronavirus crisis this year. Blazy was born in 1984. He graduated from design school La Cambre in Brussels. His first collection will be released in February 2022. Gorman founder and creative director steps away from business After 22 years as creative director, Gorman founder Lisa Gorman is departing from her position at the company. Gorman said the decision was emotional, but that her time at the business was up, and that she wants to open opportunities for new creative endeavours. “The Gorman label has achieved a level of recognition with the Australian fashion landscape that I could not have imagined when I started out in 1999,” Gorman said. “This chapter has now closed for me personally…For those continuing the label into the future, I wish you all the very best, and I have no doubt you will continue to bring the beauty of colour and print into the world of our customer.” The business, which will continue to operate under the existing creative team, stated that Lisa was instrumental in making the Gorman brand into the household name it is today. Gorman joined fashion firm Factory X 12 years ago, when the brand was facing financial issues and struggling to grow. “Gorman was acquired at a time when I needed more funding in the company,” Gorman previously told Inside Retail. “I was at the point of seven stores and having young kids.  “I needed to secure stock purchases and the lending institutions were tightening on security on shopfits. Factory X gave a lot more flexibility to me and my business partner. We could focus on the creative side, explore our horizons, and try new products. “We would have never been able to get the label to the point of having 20 stores if we were solo operators.” Glow welcomes chief of staff New private equity business Glow Capital has just hired a new chief of staff, Kristin Roberts, who has had more than 15 years of experiences supporting senior executives in the investments industry during her career. She was most recently executive assistant to the CEO of ASX-listed company, Future Generation.  In her new role, Roberts will be managing operations and investor relations while supporting Glow managing partner, Justin Ryan.