Brands
Nike
Athletic giant Nike announced Jørgen Vig Knudstorp’s nomination for election to the board of directors at the company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, held on Sept. 9.
Knudstorp was president and chief executive officer of the Lego Group from 2004-2016, executive chair of Lego Brand Group from 2017-2023 and currently serves as deputy chair of the Lego Foundation. He previously held various leadership positions at Lego from 2001-2004. Before joining Lego, Knudstorp served as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. He’s also the lead independent director of Starbucks Corporation as well as partner and executive advisor of Innovation Endeavors.
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Fabletics
Fabletics has named Carly Gomez chief marketing officer and expanded Meera Bhatia’s role, appointing her president and chief operating officer.
Bhatia joined Fabletics in February 2020. As COO, she has led initiatives across e-commerce, production, operations and technology, also spearheading the brand’s expansion into new channels. Her appointment to president and COO expands her responsibilities to now include product creation, retail, wholesale and international operations.
Gomez joined as senior vice president of brand marketing in April 2024. Her new role as CMO will emphasize guiding brand strategy, digital innovation and customer engagement.
LVMH
Luxury conglomerate LVMH has promoted Ludovic Pauchard to the newly-created role of industrial and craftsmanship director of LVMH Group and executive chairman of LVMH Métiers d’Art. He currently serves as Louis Vuitton’s senior vice president of manufacturing, a title he has held since 2019 after joining the label in 2003. Effective Sept. 1, Pauchard will report to Stéphane Bianchi, LVMH Group managing director, to “ensure operational excellence across the entire production value chain,” now with vertically integrated industrial- and craftsmanship activities.
Ralph Lauren
Lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren has approved the appointment of Angela Ahrendts as the new lead independent director, following the company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. Ahrendts has served on the Ralph Lauren board since August 2018 and is currently the finance committee chair and a member of the nominating, governance and sustainability committee. Ahrendts succeeds Hubert Joly, who, after 16 years of service, will not seek reelection to the board. Joly was appointed to the Ralph Lauren Board in June 2009 and has served as Lead Independent Director since 2021. Ahrendts’s appointment will be effective following her reelection as a director at the annual shareholder meeting on July 31.
Retail
J.Jill
Women’s specialty chain J.Jill announced Courtney O’Connor’s appointment to the role of senior vice president, chief merchandising officer, effective June 30. O’Connor will succeed Shelley Liebsch, who will be leaving J.Jill to pursue other opportunities. O’Connor is a successful merchandising leader with 20 years of experience in the global lifestyle apparel and luxury sectors, specializing in retail, wholesale and e-commerce. She most recently served as chief merchandising officer at Club Monaco and previously held senior leadership roles at Public Clothing Company and Ralph Lauren, as well as merchandising and buying roles at J.Crew, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Textiles
Carbitex
Flexible carbon fiber composites firm Carbitex announced the appointment of Jen Hanna to the newly-created role of vice president of sales for the U.S. market. Hanna brings over 12 years of experience in advanced materials and textile innovation, most recently as the director of Innegra sales at Quantum Materials and previously as president at Innegra Technologies. Based in Greer, South Carolina, she will lead U.S. sales and brand partner relations, joining global vice president of sales, Filippo Sarto, to drive Carbitex’s continued expansion efforts.
Logistics
FedEx
Multinational delivery services firm FedEx announced the appointment of R. Brad Martin as the company’s new board chairman following Frederick Wallace Smith’s death on June 21. The founder, executive director and long-time chairman and CEO of FedEx Corporation, passed away from natural causes in Memphis, Tennessee.
Martin will continue to serve as chairman of the audit and finance committee of the board. Martin was first elected to the board in Sept. 2011, the beginning of his tenure in oversight roles, including vice chairman and audit and finance committee chair.
