Personalities (updated Sept. 13, P.M.)
Spindelfabrik Suessen GmbH with new Managing Director
José Geraldes was appointed Managing Director by the Board of Directors of Spindelfabrik Suessen GmbH, Germany, with effect from July 1st, 2016. With Mr. José Geraldes SUESSEN was able to engage a very experienced expert in the field of textile machinery.
Working for Bosch in Stuttgart, his places of employment were in Homburg/Saar and in Brazil, where he was in charge for hydraulics/pneumatics and diesel fuel injection systems. After having returned to Stuttgart, he was active in the business domain New Products in the sector of diesel injection pumps.
In 1999, Geraldes moved to a new job at Groz-Beckert KG. In over eleven years of working for this company he was engaged in various technical functions. Among others, he was head of a subsidiary in Portugal for many years. After his return to the parent company, he was head of the centre for technology and development and finally head of the division for weaving accessories and weaving preparation. This included plants in Germany, Switzerland, China and the Czech Republic. In 2010, Geraldes became Managing Director of Christian Bauer GmbH + Co. KG.
SUESSEN is the acknowledged Leader in Open-End and Compact Spinning Technology.
SUESSEN’s EliTe®Compact Spinning System has been sold for over 10 million spindles and has established itself as the most versatile compact ring spinning system. Existing ring spinning machines of various manufacturers can be upgraded to compact spinning, using SUESSEN EliTe®CompactSet.
The well-known Open-End SpinBoxes SE 7, SE 8, SE 9 and SE 10 were developed and manufactured by SUESSEN.
The SpinBox generations of SC series are delivered to the rotor spinning machine manufacturer Rieter in Switzerland, retrofitting packages to existing Open-End rotor spinning machines are possible.
In total, SUESSEN has manufactured over 3.5 million SpinBoxes.
Changes at management at Swiss Syngenta
After more than 13 years with Syngenta, Jonathan Seabrook has decided to leave the Company. Jonathan served as Head Investor Relations between 2003 and 2007 and since then as Head Corporate Affairs. He was responsible for advancing Syngenta’s reputation and for the creation of The Good Growth Plan. He will be succeeded by Mark Titterington, currently Head Corporate Affairs EAME. Mark has significant experience across all Corporate Affairs disciplines and has held a variety of roles in his 10 years with the Company.
In addition, Laure Roberts, currently Head HR Business Partnering, is appointed Head Human Resources, succeeding Caroline Luscombe who left Syngenta at the end of June. Laure has considerable global experience and has held a number of roles across all HR disciplines in her 30 year career both at Syngenta and other companies.
Erik Fyrwald, CEO, said: “I would like to thank Jonathan for his many contributions to the company, notably around the development of Syngenta’s excellent reputation and the creation of The Good Growth Plan, an industry-leading approach to sustainability which will continue to differentiate the company in the years to come. His insights and guidance also played a significant role in the ChemChina transaction. I wish him every success for the future.
“I also congratulate Mark and Laure, two strong leaders who bring terrific experience, knowledge of Syngenta and our people and high energy to their new positions.”
The appointments are effective October 1, 2016, and both roles will report to the CEO.
After a career at Syngenta and legacy companies spanning 32 years, also John Ramsay has decided to retire from the company at the end of September in order to pursue other interests. John was instrumental in the foundation of Syngenta and has served with distinction as CFO since 2007 and CEO ad interim until June of this year. John will be succeeded as CFO and member of the Executive Committee by Mark Patrick, currently Head of Commercial Finance. In his 23 years with the company, Mark has held a variety of roles of increasing seniority within the Finance function.
Erik Fyrwald, CEO, said: “I should like to thank John for his many accomplishments at the company. He was instrumental in the creation of Syngenta and in the foundation of the Finance function. More recently, as CEO ad interim, he guided the company through a period of uncertainty with great skill and judgment and was central to the transaction agreement with ChemChina. I wish him every success in his future endeavors.
“I also welcome Mark to his new role as CFO. Mark brings tremendous capability, experience and energy to this critical role.”
Oerlikon appoints new Chief Human Resources Officer and Member of the Executive Committee
Today, the Board of Directors of Oerlikon announced that Anna Ryzhova has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer and a member of Oerlikon’s Executive Committee, effective October 1, 2016. Anna Ryzhova is a senior HR executive with over 15 years of experience in leading HR functions.
Anna Ryzhova held various senior HR executive positions, including 13 years at Renova Group, a strategic investor in a number of world-class companies with a strong technological focus. Most recently, Anna Ryzhova was Chief Human Resources Officer at Renova Management AG, Zurich, Switzerland. From 2010 to 2015, she served as HR and Corporate Relations Director at the Renova Group Corporate Center in Moscow, Russia. Anna Ryzhova holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the National Research University in Moscow and an Executive MBA from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Dr. Roland Fischer said: “In our strategic objective to become a global powerhouse in surface solutions and advanced materials, our people play a key role. Anna’s broad HR experience and know-how will be of great value to Oerlikon in this important transformation. I’m confident that she is the right person to take our HR function to the next level and support the Group in achieving its goals.”
NET-A-PORTER appoints Managing Director
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP today announces the appointment of Matthew Woolsey as Managing Director of NET-A-PORTER, the world’s premier online luxury fashion destination
Woolsey will be responsible for the day-to-day management of NET-A-PORTER, further developing the outstanding combination of content and commerce that has defined the brand since launch, and he will be driving its international growth.
Woolsey will oversee the content, marketing and buying functions for NET-A-PORTER, drawing on the company’s culture of innovation, its longstanding relationships with global luxury brands and its ability to deliver exceptional customer experiences around an inspiring and curated offering.
Based in YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP’s London headquarters, Woolsey will report to Alison Loehnis, President of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER, and joins the Group Executive Team. Loehnis continues to lead the strategic direction and vision of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER.
Prior to his appointment, Woolsey was Executive Vice President of Digital for Barneys New York, the US luxury retailer, where he oversaw the tripling of Barneys’ digital business in four years with an emphasis on mobile, personalization and editorial.
Woolsey’s appointment is a key milestone in NET-A-PORTER’s growth strategy and demonstrates YNAP’s strong commitment to delivering on its Five Year Plan unveiled in July 2016.
“I am delighted to join NET-A-PORTER and build on its track record of continuously reinventing luxury retail. The creativity and desire of the team to set new standards will allow us to bring new experiences to our brands and customers,”commented Matthew Woolsey, Managing Director of NET-A-PORTER. Matthew is an outstanding talent with a track record of excellence in areas core to our business. His background in journalism, tech and e-commerce defines him as a true 21(st) century leader with a clear vision of how best to harness technology to enhance service and customer experience.
Matthew’s understanding of both an American and international luxury fashion customer will serve him well in his new role managing NET-A-PORTER’s global business. Alongside Toby Bateman at MR PORTER we have two exceptional talents driving our businesses forward to an exciting future,” commented Alison Loehnis, President of NET-A-PORTER & MR PORTER.
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP is the world’s leading online luxury fashion retailer. The Group is a Global company with Anglo-Italian roots, the result of a game-changing merger, which in October 2015 brought together YOOX GROUP and THE NET-A-PORTER GROUP, two companies that have revolutionized the luxury fashion industry since their birth in 2000.
Uniquely positioned in the high-growth online luxury sector, YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP has an unrivalled client base of more than 2.5 million high-spending customers, over 27 million monthly unique visitors worldwide and combined 2015 net revenues of EUR1.7 billion. YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP has offices and operations in the United States, Europe, Japan, China and Hong Kong and delivers to more than 180 countries around the world.
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange as YNAP. It is a unique business with an unrivalled offering covering all luxury fashion customer segments, through its multi-brand in-season online stores NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER; its multi-brand off-season online stores YOOX and THE OUTNET; and its numerous ONLINE FLAGSHIP STORES “Powered by YNAP”.
NET-A-PORTER, launched in 2000, has become the world’s premier online luxury fashion destination for content and commerce. A true innovator, NET-A-PORTER is renowned for its unparalleled editorial content and is a leading destination for the world’s most coveted designer brands.
MR PORTER, launched in 2011, has established itself as the award-winning global retail destination for men’s style, combining an unparalleled product offering from the world’s best menswear brands, watchmakers and specialist grooming brands.
YOOX, launched in 2000, is the world’s leading online lifestyle store for fashion, design and art, offering a never-ending selection including: hard-to-find clothing and accessories from the world’s most prestigious designers, exclusive capsule collections, eco-friendly fashion, a unique assortment of home design objects, original books and a curated selection of compelling and collectable artworks.
THE OUTNET, launched in 2009, is the most fashionable fashion outlet, and has grown to be the go-to destination for the style-conscious shopper looking for the best designer products at great prices.
Editorial content is at the core of the modern e-commerce experience and the ultimate reference point for global consumers in the fashion space, whether online or offline – anytime, anywhere and on any platform. The Group’s media and publishing division creates award-winning content for its titles including, but not limited to, PORTER, The EDIT and The Journal, which connect with consumers in a unique and authentic way.
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP is the e-commerce partner of choice for leading fashion & luxury brands, designing and managing ONLINE FLAGSHIP STORES offering their latest collection on the Internet. With over 15 years of experience in global luxury e-commerce, YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP offers brand partners a wide range of services, including creating and developing the creative concept, innovative interface design, state-of-the-art technology and R&D, high-precision global customer logistics, unrivalled customer care, international web marketing and e-commerce strategy development.
NET-A-PORTER launched in June 2000 and has since established itself as the world’s premier online luxury fashion destination. A pioneer of innovation, NET-A-PORTER speaks to a global monthly audience of 6 million female luxury consumers, fans and followers via the weekly shoppable digital magazine THE EDIT, powered by NET-A-PORTER, and PORTER Magazine, the game-changing luxury fashion magazine powered by NET-A-PORTER that combines the intimacy of print with a state-of-the-art digital shopping experience and THE NET SET, the world’s first shoppable social media platform powered by NET-A-PORTER. NET-A-PORTER is presented in the style of a fashion magazine, is renowned for its unparalleled edit comprising more than 450 of the world’s most coveted designer brands, including Saint Laurent, Prada, Chloe, Givenchy, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Stella McCartney, over 190 specialist beauty brands within NET-A-SPORTER. NET-A-PORTER champions unparalleled customer service – offering express worldwide shipping to more than 170 countries (including same-day delivery to Manhattan, London and Hong Kong and next-day delivery to the UK, US, Germany, France, Australia and Singapore), a seamless shopping experience across mobile, tablet, desktop, email and telephone, luxurious packaging, easy returns and a multi-lingual customer care and personal shopping team that are available 24/7, 365 days.
Highly experienced additions to US ELOQUII’S Management Team
Reflecting the fast growth of its business and substantial ongoing potential, ELOQUII, the pioneering e-commerce destination for contemporary, fast fashion in sizes 14 to 28, today announced the appointment of two highly accomplished fashion marketing and ecommerce technology executives. Michael Concannon was named Chief Technology Officer of ELOQUII, a role he took after having served as CTO of Amazon’s Quidsi and other senior ecommerce technology roles. And Melissa Gellman Weiss joined the Company as Chief Marketing Officer + Executive Vice-President Direct-to-Consumer from J. Crew, where she was Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing
Commenting on the appointments, ELOQUII’s Chief Executive Officer, Mariah Chase, said, “It is a testament to the strength of our brand in the plus-size market and the extraordinary growth potential that we see ahead that we were able to attract such highly accomplished and talented executives to our Company. Michael is a deeply experienced technology and ecommerce executive, who will enable us to further build on our strong digital platform to provide even better service and more targeted outreach while also streamlining our operations. Melissa is a skilled and forward thinking fashion retail and digital marketing executive, who brings a clear vision of how ELOQUII can even more deeply engage with our current customers and attract new ones. The combination of their expertise with those of our existing team will allow us to fully maximize the potential of the ELOQUII brand and continue to provide our customer with the fashion first experience that has driven our very strong growth to date. We’re thrilled to have them on board.”
In addition to Ms. Chase, Mr. Concannon and Ms. Gellman Weiss, ELOQUII’s founding leadership team includes: John Auerbach, Chairman; Jodi Arnold, Chief Creative Officer; Steve Zawada, Chief Operating Officer; and Julie Carnevale, Chief Merchandising Officer.
Concannon joined ELOQUII from Quidsi, an Amazon-owned e-commerce company, where he served as CTO, for nearly two years, he oversaw long-term technical strategy and maintained technical leadership for the entire platform of six sites including diapers.com and others. He previously served as VP of Ecommerce for Barnes & Noble from 2010 to 2014. During that time, he spearheaded the reinvention of B&N.com’s development and supporting services, guiding teams on both coasts into a period of strong growth and productivity. Prior to that, Michael served as VP of Engineering for the Direct-to-Consumer services group at Sony Music Entertainment, where he developed, launched, and maintained an ecommerce platform of more than 100 artists’ stores. He began his career at AT&T Bell Labs and later became a technology consultant for several companies including AT&T, IBM Watson Research Center, and Schering-Plough. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University.
Prior to joining ELOQUII, Weiss served for two years as the head of marketing for J. Crew, where she successfully launched growth strategies across the e-commerce and physical retail channels, through direct response programming, digital marketing innovation, web optimization, customer marketing initiatives, and brand cultivation programming. She previously led the brand marketing effort for the apparel, shoes and accessories divisions of Amazon.com, including developing best practices for content strategies and social marketing. While at Amazon, Ms. Weiss led the marketing and international development initiative for subsidiary Shopbop.com. Previously, she spent seven years in marketing and business development at Fast Retailing USA, working closely with the CEO and Founder on the evolution of the Theory brand, driving growth across its global wholesale and DTC businesses and collaborating on the re-launch of the Helmut Lang label. She began her career working in communications for J. Mendel and Givenchy, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where she graduated magna cum laude.
ELOQUII Design, Inc., based in New York and Columbus, Ohio, is a private company that is transforming the way plus-size women dress and participate in fashion. The pioneering e-commerce destination for contemporary fast fashion in sizes 14 to 28, ELOQUII offers exceptional style at a wide range of accessible price points. The Company–in merchandise categories including apparel, wide width footwear and accessories–debuts new and exciting trend-leading collections each month.
ELOQUII also offers customers access to unique content through its Style & Substance blog and curated catalogue, and has created an online community through its #XOQ hashtag, which allows customers to tag themselves to the Company’s site.
The brand is currently sold through http://www.ELOQUII.com, as well as via its exclusive catalogue. It has also entered into a collaboration with leading bridal brand Stone Fox Bride to create a capsule co-branded plus-size collection, as well as pursue other joint brand opportunities.
According to Top500Guide.com, Eloquii had Internet Retailer-estimated web sales of USD 21 million in 2015, up 320 % from USD 5 million in 2014. Eloquii in April 2016 raised USD 15 million in a funding round led by investment firm Action Capital Partners.