Jonathan Akeroyd appointed CEO at Versace

London - Jonathan Akeroyd, former Chief Executive Officer at Alexander McQueen, has been tapped as the new CEO at Gianni Versace SpA, effective immediately. He will be succeeding Gian Giacomo Ferraris, who has been with the Italian fashion house since 2009, reports WWD.

"We are delighted to welcome Jonathan Akeroyd as our new ceo," said Donatella Versace, vice president and artistic director at Versace to WWD. She noted that Akeroyd "brings a proven track record in building global brands, steering growth and driving strategic development. Jonathan Akeroyd's industry expertise and vision will be key to advancing the next phase of Versace’s development."

Versace appoints former Alexander McQueen CEO as CEO

Akeroyd is expected to take up the reigns at Versace sometime next month, as he left his former role at McQueen earlier this month to "pursue other interests" outside of the company according to a statement from the British fashion house. He first joined the team at McQueen in 2004, during which he successfully oversaw the growth and international expansion of the label.

"It is an honor to be joining such a dynamic and innovative organization," said Akeroyd on his new appointment. "Versace is an iconic lifestyle brand recognized globally as a premier name in luxury. I look forward to implementing a long-term business strategy that supports the visionary and creative direction of Donatella Versace and her team."

Donatella Versace also thanked Ferraris for all his hard work at Versace, adding that he had done a "superb job of securing Versace’s status as one of the world’s leading luxury brands." Ferraris first joined the team at Versace as chief executive in 2009. He has been credited with transforming the fashion house, which had been struggling with its identity since the sudden death of its founder Gianni Versace in 1997.

In 2014, Ferraris helped secure a 210 million euro cash injection from American private equity firm The Blackstone Group, who acquired a 20 percent stake in the company and began to lay the groundwork for a potential initial public offering. Speculation indicates that the company, which was founded in 1978 is likely to go public by 2020.

Photos: Versace, Palazzo EMpire Campaign and SS16, Facebook