Christopher Bailey, the man behind the creative process that turned UK luxury fashion retailer Burberry into a household name worldwide, will step down from his roles as President and Chief Creative Officer of the company on March 31, 2018.
Bailey has been with the company since 2001, serving as “a driving force behind Burberry’s transformation,” according to a statement. Under Bailey, Burberry moved upmarket, emphasized its British heritage and launched new leather goods such as the Bridle bag.
The company also shook up traditional fashion production cycles by enabling people to buy designs as soon as they were shown on the catwalk.
Advertisement
In May 2014, Bailey became the company’s CEO and Chief Creative Officer, before Marco Gobbetti officially took on the CEO role in July 2017. Burberry poached Gobbetti from French luxury fashion retailer Celine to overhaul the business, leaving Bailey in charge of creative control.
But now it appears Gobbetti will be the one in charge of revamping Burberry’s creative direction and operations, especially as the retailer cuts costs further. The luxury retailer wants to save at least $130 million by 2019.
Bailey will help Gobbetti and the team with the transition until December 31, 2018.A Burberry spokesman said Bailey made the decision to leave, and that Burberry had started its search for a new creative head.
As part of the transition, Bailey also will step down from the Burberry Board of Directors.
