China-based fashion group Lanvin has appointed a new executive president as part of a leadership shuffle to fuel international growth strategy, which includes opening a second headquarters in Europe.

The group named Andy Lew, CEO of St John Knits, as its executive president, while Eric Chan will transition from his role as CEO to join the board.

In his new role, Lew will oversee the company’s operations from strategic implementation to supply chain. He will also lead the group’s second headquarters in Europe, designed to support global expansion plans, as well as continue to serve as a key leader of the St John Knits brand.

Lew brings more than 35 years of experience in the fashion industry, with a proven track record of leadership in the luxury sector. Prior to his leadership role at St John Knits, he held senior positions at Brooks Brothers, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Nordstrom.

In addition to these changes, the board has agreed to expand from eight to nine members and appointed Alan Liu, who will replace Grace Fang, alongside Eric Chan as directors.

“These leadership changes mark an exciting chapter for Lanvin Group as we continue to grow and innovate in the luxury fashion industry,” said Zhen Huang, Chairman of the board.

“With Andy’s exceptional expertise and the strengthened board, I am confident we will exceed our strategic goals and deliver even greater value to our stakeholders,” Huang added.

For the fiscal first half, Lanvin recorded a 20 per cent drop in sales due to soft demand.