Paul Smith has hired ex-Fortnum & Mason CEO Ewan Venters as its newly created executive chairman.
Venters has served as non-executive director of Paul Smith since February. He was previously CEO of art gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Prior to this, Venters worked as CEO of Fortnum & Mason for eight years, where he oversaw the business’s transformation and “unparalleled growth” in the company.
The exec has also held a leadership role at department store chain Selfridges.
Venters is set to remain in other positions, such as chair of the private sector council of the Great campaign.
The appointment to the newly created role, which is effective from 1 October, comes as Paul Smith gears up to celebrate its 55th anniversary.
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Venters said: “Paul Smith is one Britain’s most enduring, captivating and beloved brands, and I am thrilled to be joining the team at an important juncture in its development.
“I have known and admired Sir Paul for some time, and I regard it as a great privilege to work alongside one of Britain’s greatest living designers and entrepreneurs.”
Sir Paul Smith added: “I’m delighted to welcome Ewan to the team on the cusp of celebrating our 55th anniversary.
“In his time at Paul Smith as a non-executive director, Ewan has brought boundless energy and a welcome perspective to help propel us into our next chapter. I’m very excited to continue working together.”
Paul Smith named fashion SEO agency Verde Digital as its search engine optimisation agency in August, as it sought to attract new audiences.
The partnership, which began in July, sees the agency deliver on-page and technical SEO support as part of a broader cross-channel digital strategy.
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