Daily Front Row

2010 May 19

Caroline Brown Named President of Carolina Herrera

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Caroline Brown
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(NEW YORK) After eight months of operating without a president, Carolina Herrera Ltd. has tapped Caroline Brown for the role vacated by Mario Grauso. She will officially join the company on June 1 and oversee the brand's business worldwide, including Carolina Herrera New York (bridal and ready-to-wear) as well as CH Carolina Herrera. The appointment was announced today by Marc Puig, chairman and chief executive officer of Puig SL, Carolina Herrera's parent company.

An industry vet, Brown most recently served as president and CEO of J. Christopher Capital Inc., Christopher Burch's company that is developing new retail ventures. Previously, she served as U.S. CEO of Akris and senior vice president of marketing and communications at Giorgio Armani Corporation. During her tenure at Akris, Brown raised the company's profile in the United States by improving the brand's prominence in its retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman. Throughout the industry, she is respected as a serious, industrious businessperson and mother of two with an admirable talent for growing brands both floundering and established.

And as any casual observer of Madison Avenue might notice, Carolina Herrera is rapidly expanding her empire. A CH Carolina Herrera store is expected to open on the Avenue this summer, with 17 more to follow in various locations around the world by the end of 2010. The Carolina Herrera New York stores now number 5 in North America, thanks to the recent openings of Bal Harbour, FL and Las Vegas locations. The ready-to-wear is sold in 59 department and specialty stores worldwide, while bridal is available at 52 specialty stores.
ASHLEY BAKER