Spring brings new faces to retailer executive boards

First day of spring has seen a good deal of executive appointment across the fashion and apparel industry. New faces will be seen in SuperGroup, Net-a-Porter, and Blue Nile, just to mention but a few. SuperGroup, the owner of the Superdry fashion brand,

has appointed Susanne Given in a newly created role as chief operating officer. Given had previously held the role of UK managing director at TK Maxx and most recently was director of fashion and beauty at John Lewis partnership.  Supergroup also has a new chief financial officer. Former Habitat chief operating officer and Fat Face finance director Shaun Wills will be joining the group on 23rd April. Further strengthening its management team, Supergroup has named Claire Arksey, currently retail director at apparel retailer Reiss, as head of retail.

Meanwhile, the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewellery Blue Nile announced Tuesday the appointment of Harvey Kanter as Chief Executive Officer and President, effective March 30, 2012. Mr. Kanter will also be appointed to Blue Nile’s Board of Directors, effective March 30, 2012. Mark Vadon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Blue Nile, will assist in Mr. Kanter’s transition. Interim Chief Executive Officer Vijay Talwar has been appointed Blue Nile’s General Manager and President of International, and will lead Blue Nile’s international business.

Also Joe's Jeans Inc. announced Tuesday that Joanne Calabrese has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. Ms. Calabrese, a 30-year veteran of the retail apparel industry, presently serves as the founder and owner of jcr3, a retail consulting firm specializing in merchandising, marketing, multi-channel retailing and strategic planning for global retail expansion. Prior to her consulting practice, Ms. Calabrese served as President of the Americas region for The Body Shop, a personal care retailer with 450 stores in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Ms. Calabrese has also previously served in executive positions for other well-known retail companies, such as the Gap, Inc., Macy's Inc., and DFS Group, the operator of Duty Free Shops. Ms. Calabrese began her career as a buyer for shoes and fashion accessories at Marshall Field's.

Finally, Net-a-Porter has poached former Harper’s Bazaar UK editor-in-chief Lucy Yeomans as its new editor of Net-A-Porter.com.