Tory Burch has named Joëlle Grunberg president of North America, WWD has learned.
Grunberg formerly worked at McKinsey & Co. as a partner in the consulting firm’s retail, fashion and luxury practice for North America. She starts her new job on Monday and will be responsible for the brand’s retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in North America.
Grunberg will be based in New York, reporting to chief executive officer Pierre-Yves Roussel. She succeeds Christophe de Pous, who is leaving Tory Burch to pursue other opportunities, according to the company.
“Joëlle is an accomplished executive with a vast range of experience in our industry,” Roussel said in a statement provided to WWD on Tuesday. “She brings with her a growth mindset in alignment with our approach, as well as a strong track record of success driving customer engagement and omnichannel results. I look forward to working with her to further capitalize on our strength and potential in North America.”
In her prepared statement, Tory Burch, executive chairman and chief creative officer, said: “Joëlle is a proven leader who shares our sharp focus on the customer and recognizes the importance of connecting brand storytelling to the store and the digital experience. I am thrilled to welcome her the team.”
The executives characterized Grunberg as “a seasoned strategist with deep operational expertise.”
Grunberg has held multiple C-suite roles in the fashion and luxury sector in Europe and the U.S. Prior to McKinsey, she served in executive leadership roles at Wolverine Worldwide, Lacoste and Galeries Lafayette. She has a seat on the French American Chamber of Commerce Fashion and Luxury Advisory Board.
“I am beyond excited to be joining Tory Burch, one of the most iconic American fashion brands, to lead North America alongside Pierre-Yves and Tory,” Grunberg said in her statement. “As the brand accelerates its growth, I look forward to playing a leadership role in this journey leveraging the amazing and dedicated teams at headquarters and in the field.”
North America is Tory Burch’s largest market and has been the base for its global expansion strategy. Since opening its first store in New York City in 2004, the brand has extended its footprint to include 125 stores across the U.S. and Canada, representing nearly one-third of the fleet worldwide. The brand also conducts e-commerce on toryburch.com and is distributed in select department stores, including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus.
Tory Burch started her company in 2004 intent on “building a global luxury brand and a foundation that would advance women’s economic power,” the company indicated. Designed in Burch’s New York atelier, the collection includes ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, beauty and home.
Tory Burch
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