Dive Brief:
- Neiman Marcus on Wednesday announced the appointment of Ryan Ross to the position of president effective Aug. 15, according to a company press release.
- The new role will “fuel acceleration by strengthening the brand and customer experience,” per the company. Ross will report to CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck.
- Ross resigned from Williams-Sonoma last week, where he was serving as the president of the Williams Sonoma brand.
Dive Insight:
Neiman Marcus, which defines itself as “one of the largest multi-brand luxury retailers in the U.S.,” is ready to invest in a dedicated brand leader.
Ross most recently came over from Williams-Sonoma, where he integrated channel strategies, drove customer growth and evolved the company’s namesake brand. He has also held leadership roles at HSN, Harrods, Pottery Barn and Gap Inc.
"Ryan is a values-driven leader with a proven track record of achieving rapid growth and optimizing customer-centric experiences," van Raemdonck said in a statement. "This new role represents the next step in our Revolutionizing Luxury Experiences strategy, and we're confident that an esteemed omnichannel retail leader like Ryan further positions Neiman Marcus for sustainable growth."
At the same time, Neiman Marcus announced the departure of Chief Customer Officer David Goubert. Goubert was with Neiman Marcus Group for over three years and is leaving the role to “pursue personal interests.”
Last month, the retailer revealed details of its “corporate hubs” strategy, wherein the company envisions a network of hubs of different types — including its stores, distribution centers, and associates’ home offices. The strategy is meant to allow corporate associates to allocate their time and pick their location based on what drives the best results. The company is currently exploring locations for corporate hubs where it has a large concentration of associates.
Earlier this spring, Farfetch announced it was making a minority common equity investment of up to $200 million in Neiman Marcus Group.
