LONDON — Helen Wright will join Anya Hindmarch as chief executive officer in May, replacing James McArthur who’s been with the brand for the past four years.
Wright joins from Karl Lagerfeld, where she was global vice-president of retail. Previously, she spent three years at Fendi as president Europe, the Middle East and India, and has also worked in management roles at Ralph Lauren and Bamford.
“This is an exciting next phase for AH,” said Hindmarch, the brand’s founder, chairman and chief creative officer. “We will now focus on taking the brand’s creativity and energy to our retail environments and new territories. Helen brings great experience of translating creative output into business growth. I very much look forward to working with her.”
Over the past four years Hindmarch and McArthur worked on streamlining the mechanics of the company and accelerating growth worldwide. The brand took direct control of its previously franchised operations in Japan; re-worked the IT infrastructure; and brought in minority investors Mayhoola for Investments in 2012.
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Although McArthur will step down in May, he will continue to be a shareholder and plans to maintain close links to the company.
Hindmarch called McArthur “a change merchant” for the company. “He leaves a brand that has just won the Accessories Designer of the Year award (at the British Fashion Awards), and with a wholesale order book that is up 60 percent. I am very grateful for his contribution.”