Burberry has appointed Jonathan Akeroyd as CEO and Executive Director, effective April 2022.
Akeroyd is currently CEO of Gianni Versace SpA, a position he has held since 2016. He will succeed Marco Gobbetti, who was named Burberry CEO in 2017. Gobbetti is leaving Burberry at the end of 2021 to take the reins at Salvatore Ferragamo. Gerry Murphy, Burberry Chair, will head the company until Akeroyd comes aboard in April.
Burberry credited Akeroyd for reorganizing and accelerating growth at Versace by building on the Italian brand’s heritage to elevate product, communications and the customer experience.
“I have long admired Burberry’s position as the most iconic British luxury brand and I have a deep affection for its storied heritage,” Akeroyd said in a statement. “I am looking forward to returning to London, where I first built my career in the luxury industry, to join a talented team with ambitious plans for the future and a strong platform to accelerate growth.”
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From 2004 to 2016, Akeroyd was CEO of Alexander McQueen, and he also has held a number of senior fashion roles at London-based luxury department store Harrods. At Burberry he will report to Chair Murphy and the Board of Directors.
“Jonathan is an experienced leader with a strong track record in building global luxury fashion brands and driving profitable growth,” Murphy said in a statement. “He shares our values and our ambition to build on Burberry’s unique British creative heritage, and his deep luxury and fashion industry expertise will be key to advancing the next phase of Burberry’s evolution.”
