Bolstering its management to drive growth in a key market, Akris has tapped Caroline Brown from Giorgio Armani Corp. as its first U.S. chief executive officer.
Brown, most recently senior vice president of marketing and communications at Armani, joins the Swiss designer firm on Dec. 4. Based in New York, she will report to Peter Kriemler, president of Akris, which has headquarters in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Kriemler said Brown would be charged with raising brand awareness, building an infrastructure and formulating a development strategy. Her responsibilities include the brand’s retail and wholesale businesses, marketing, communications, image and operational support.
Kriemler said North America represents about 40 percent of the Akris business, with annual growth in the range of 20 to 30 percent.
The company operates freestanding stores in New York and Boston and wholesales its Akris and Akris Punto collections to retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew in Canada. The brand arrived in the U.S. in 1988.
Designed by Peter Kriemler’s brother, Albert, the collection has been raising its international profile with runway shows in Paris and advertising campaigns shot by Steven Klein. But the family-owned firm, founded in 1922, is unique, with its focus on luxury ready-to-wear and no licenses or accessories.