VF Corporation-owned Kipling has announced several key global organisational changes.
Vera Breuer has been appointed as Global President. She succeeds Richard Macey who retired earlier this year after 18 years at the company.
Breuer reports to VF Group President EMEA Martino Scabbia Guerrini and is based at the VF office in Bornem, Belgium.
Breuer is accountable for delivering brand strategies and helping to define Kipling’s long-term vision. She also will manage the brand’s asset creation through product, design and marketing, and help to pursue Kipling’s five-year plans and global P&L targets.
Breuer has a successful track record of managing luxury brands for L’Oréal and has spent the majority of her career in Asia. Most recently, she was General Manager South Asia for The Body Shop. Breuer previously worked in Hong Kong and Germany where she gained relevant international experience managing major businesses.
Olivier Gay, who joined Kipling in 2016 as Vice President Sales and Retail for Europe, Middle East and Africa, has been promoted to VP & General Manager Kipling EMEA. In his role, Gay is responsible for delivering Kipling’s strategy and P&L for EMEA and setting up the brand’s short-term and long-term strategy for the region.
Gay has over 17 years’ experience in the luxury business and held several positions at Cartier.
International Sales Manager Distributors & Travel Retail Thomas Falcy has been promoted to Sales Director Global Travel Retail & Distributors EMEA, effective 1 May. He will report to Vera Breuer for global travel retail and Olivier Gay for the EMEA distributor business.
“The main focus for managing our travel retail business globally will be presenting the brand consistently across the globe. Defining and implementing a go-to market strategy with a global product assortment and marketing support in all travel retail touch points will allow us to further build strong relationships with global key accounts,” said Kipling.
Wolfe has worked for high-profile brands such as Tumi, Kate Spade and Coach
Wolfe will lead Kipling’s Global Product and Design teams, supporting the Kipling brand in identifying ongoing and seasonal product directions, innovation opportunities and new capabilities for markets. She will play a key bridging role across merchandising, sourcing, design and development.
Prior to joining Kipling, Wolfe worked for her own accessories brand, which she started two years ago. Before that she had a 15-year career at Tumi New York, most recently as Vice President, Product Development and Design. Wolfe has also held positions at Kate Spade and Coach, and has extensive experience in design and development across the globe.