Simon Whitehouse named first CEO of J.W. Anderson
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“I wanted someone who had a sales background and someone who could understand the needs of a small business and a younger team,” said Anderson in an interview with Business of Fashion. “The way in which he was speaking, I felt like I could trust and look up to [him].”
Simon Whitehouse is J.W. Anderson debut chief executive officer
Prior to being tapped as J.W Anderson's CEO, Whitehouse held executive positions at fashion brands Diesel and Matthew Williamson. In an interview with Business of Fashion, the Irish designer revealed that he needed a “partner-in-crime” to help him over see and managing his increasing team of designers, visual merchandisers and sales assistants.
“With Simon what was important was that I liked the energy level, the idea that it can be done...just the way that he was speaking made me feel like he was someone I could trust and look up to and I thought I could learn from. I feel that if I can't learn from them then there is no point because they end up being a processor,” added Anderson.
“When you are working at this level and doing the amount of collections and business is growing and growing, you need someone that is going to create a dialogue with you and who you are learning from...I interviewed many people and he was the only person who, when I came out of the interview, I felt like this is the one.”
The new appointment is one of the main steps J.W. Anderson has taken since receiving investment from LVMH, and coincides with the unveiling of the label's new head quarters and atelier, as well as the launch of the label's first e-commerce website.
The J.W. Anderson online platform is set to launch 16 June and will offer unique “colorways” as well as more globally available products to offer customers a look into the world of label.
Photo 1: Jonathan Anderson
Photo 2: Simon Whitehouse