Burberry welcomes new CEO Versace CEO Jonathan Akeroyd has been appointed new CEO and executive director of Burberry, effective in April. Akeroyd will report to chairperson Gerry Murphy and the board. He succeeds Marco Gobbetti, who will leave Burberry by the end of this year. “Akeroyd is an experienced leader with a strong track record in building global luxury fashion brands and driving profitable growth,” Murphy said. “He shares our values and our ambition to build on Burberry’s uniqu
s unique British creative heritage and his deep luxury and fashion industry expertise will be key to advancing the next phase of Burberry’s evolution.”
Akeroyd has served at Versace as CEO since June 2016, helping the brand reorganise and accelerate its growth. Prior to Versace, he was CEO at Alexander McQueen from 2004 to 2016. Akeroyd has also held several senior fashion roles at London-based luxury department store Harrods.
“I am looking forward to returning to London, where I first built my career in the luxury industry, to join a talented team with ambitious plans for the future and a strong platform to accelerate growth,” Akeroyd said.
Meanwhile, Murphy will chair the executive committee until Akeroyd joins Burberry.
Crumpler co-founder returns to the business
After months without a full-time chief executive, Crumpler has brought back co-founder David Roper to take the bag business back to its roots.
In an announcement made on the business’ Facebook page, Roper said he is grateful for all of Crumpler’s staff and supporters, and is bringing his daughter, Virginia Martin, into the business as creative director.
“I’m so happy to be back in the saddle at this fantastic bag company…We are bringing back our Crumpler roots – the fun, the colour, and the laughs,” Roper said.
Martin said she is excited to help her dad bring the brand back to where it began.
“Watching [Crumpler] grow inspired me and gave me the insight to go out and create my own label, Búl,” Martin said. “After what feels like a lifetime since the humble beginnings in that first [Crumpler] store, I am so excited to be back to help Dave return Crumpler to its former glory.”
The company appointed voluntary administrators in September after determining its current cash flow couldn’t keep it afloat.
In August, Crumpler’s former CEO, Adam Wilkinson, left the business, and his role as CEO at Tigerlily, to take up the new position of head of new business at PAS Group.
Frasers Property Australia boosts sustainability team
Property organisation Frasers has just welcomed architect and environmental designer Kate Nason as sustainability advisor.
Nason previously worked at Atelier Ten, ARKit and Jackson Clements Burrow and has experience working across mixed-use developments, civic and institutional projects and more. She has also been involved in a range of sustainable community developments with Development Victoria.
“Ms Nason shares the values and passion of our team, and has the experience, skills and networks to make a real contribution to our sustainability strategy. Sustainability underpins all our operations because we believe in a better, cleaner future, and Ms Nason’s appointment helps us achieve better outcomes through the full property cycle,” said Nicholle Sparks, general manager of delivery and operations at Frasers.