Michael Kors Taps Anne Walsh as President, North America Retail
Anne Walsh, currently senior vice president, merchandising, North American Retail at Michael Kors, has been promoted to president, Michael Kors North America Retail, effective April 1.
She reports to Cedric Wilmotte, chief executive officer of Michael Kors.
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Walsh takes the duties formerly handled by Jaryn Bloom, group president of North America Retail, who has made the decision to leave the organization after 18 years with the Michael Kors brand.
“Jaryn has been a key member of the Michael Kors executive team and is credited with developing and scaling our multibillion-dollar global retail and e-commerce businesses and positioning Michael Kors as a major omnichannel player in the fashion space,” said Wilmotte. “Jaryn has made significant contributions to our organization, built strong teams and leaves a legacy founded on passion, dedication and resilience,” he said.
Bloom will work with the team over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition and will be available for support through June.
Earlier in her career, Bloom was president of retail at Elie Tahari and was president of retail at Kenneth Cole Productions.
In addition, Debra Margles, president of Michael Kors Canada, has made the decision to leave the company at the end of March after almost 20 years with the organization. Margles’ existing direct reports will transition to report into functional North America leaders.
“Debra has been integral in establishing the Michael Kors brand in Canada and building the substantial business we have today,” said Wilmotte. “Her energy, passion for people and drive for results are admirable qualities that have had a lasting impact on our business and our Canadian team,” he said. “Both Jaryn and Debra have been an instrumental part of the business and will be greatly missed.”
During her 11-year tendure at Michael Kors, Walsh has played an important role in building the MIchael Kors U.S. retail business, and most recently, leading the U.S. retail merchandising strategies across all channels.
“I am confident that Anne’s drive, enthusiasm and deep understanding of our business will allow us to continue to drive our retail strategy forward,” said Wilmotte, who has been in the CEO role since April 2023.
“I am excited to step into the role of president, Michael Kors North America Retail, and do so with immense gratitude and respect for the legacy that Jaryn and Debra have created,” said Walsh. “Their years of leadership and impact on the business are admirable. This is a pivotal time in our company’s history, and I look forward to working closely with Cedric, Michael and the teams to continue to bring Michael’s vision to life and further drive our business into the future,” she said.
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