Tory Burch appoints Thibault Villet as brand’s APAC President Thibault Villet will join American luxury fashion brand Tory Burch as president of Asia-Pacific from December 28. He will oversee all aspects of the brand’s operations, reporting to CEO Pierre-Yves Roussel. Villet has extensive retail and digital experience. As Asia President of One in Beauty, which owns brands including Revlon and Elizabeth Arden, he spearheaded the digital transformation of the latter, resulting in it becoming t
ming the seventh-most popular luxury brand on Chinese e-commerce sites.
His CV also includes time at Coach as the brand’s first president for Greater China, and stints as vice-president for China and Japan for the L’Oreal Group. Most recently, Villet was chairman and co-founder of the Chinese luxury online retailer Mei.com.
“His entrepreneurial mindset and impressive track record in our industry make him a natural fit and a welcome addition to our team,” said Roussel. “I look forward to working with him.”
Villet serves as a mentor, investor and advisor to tech start-ups in Asia through the Retail Committee of FrenchFounders Asia and YPO North Asia. In 2015, he received the Shanghai Magnolia Award, which honours expatriates for their contributions to the city.
Lee Munro steps down as chief experience officer of Munro Footwear Group
After 20 years with Munro Footwear Group, chief experience officer Lee Munro will transition to a non-executive director role.
He was heavily involved in reinventing the brand’s Styletread business, which is now one of Australia’s leading online footwear retailers.
His brother, CEO Jay Munro, said Lee was instrumental in implementing a digital integration strategy after a series of acquisitions that have now set a solid foundation for future transformation.
“I am very proud of the role I have played in Munro Footwear Group’s success,” Lee said. “Twenty years ago, when I joined the business as its 12th employee, we could never have imagined this growth and the vital role that technology would play. It has been immensely fulfilling to see the group develop to over 2000 wonderful team members. [Stepping aside] was a difficult decision that I did not make lightly, but I felt the time was right for me to step aside and seek new opportunities.”
