Dive Brief:

• Stuart Haselden, who joined Away in January, is taking over as the sole CEO of the company effective immediately, the DTC brand said in a Thursday press release. Steph Korey, Away's co-founder and co-CEO, will step down as co-CEO but continue to serve on the board of directors.

• Korey's plan to step down this year had been in place since "the beginning of this year," the company said in July. Korey initially announced she would step down in December 2019 and then reversed that decision a month later and resumed the CEO title alongside Haselden.

• Away also announced an expanded executive team that includes several execs with experience at big names in retail, including Lululemon, Nike and Kate Spade.

Dive Insight:

The saga of Away's CEO succession plans appears to finally be at an end, as Haselden takes over the role of sole CEO at the DTC brand. 

Korey originally announced in December that she would step down, days after an investigative report by The Verge explored the brand's "culture of intimidation and constant surveillance." That didn't end up happening, and Korey and Haselden have served as co-CEOs since January. 

Now, however, the baton seems to have officially been passed. The company simultaneously announced a larger executive leadership team, which will help in "positioning the company for growth in the lead up to several highly anticipated brand and product expansions," the company said. The retailer has said in the past that it plans to expand in its existing categories, as well as move into apparel, wellness and lifestyle accessories.

The new executive team tasked with carrying out those expansions includes several Away veterans and several execs that come from outside the luggage space.

The brand's chief supply chain officer, Candan Erenguc, formerly served as Lululemon's senior vice president of operations excellence; Catherine Dunleavy, Away's CFO, is the former vice president and CFO of global operations, technology and strategic investments at Nike; Roy Chan, president of international and senior vice president retail at Away, was formerly the president of international at Kate Spade; and Shadé Akande, the brand's chief people officer, is the former vice president of people at Meetup. Away co-founder Jen Rubio will continue to hold the role of president at the brand. 

"Stuart is a proven leader with deep operational experience, and I am confident that he and this highly talented leadership team can take our brand to the next level and ensure that Away reaches its full potential," Korey said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to serve on the Company's Board and am confident that Away is in excellent hands with Stuart at the helm."