Dive Brief:
- Following another C-Suite appointment last year, Hodinkee has appointed Jeffery Fowler to serve as its new CEO, the company announced on Monday via email to Retail Dive. Hodinkee’s former CEO, Toby Bateman, will remain in his advisory role at the company.
- Fowler joins Hodinkee from Farfetch, where he served as president of the Americas. In that position, he managed staffers across New York, Los Angeles and São Paulo and worked on enhancing customer service and building relationships with boutique and brand partners.
- Fowler also held leadership positions at LVMH, Richemont and Tesla, per the announcement.
Dive Insight:
As Hodinkee executes its digital revamp, the company has made changes to its executive leadership team that bring on experienced retail veterans.
In October, Hodinkee appointed Andy Shin to be its chief product and technology officer, a role that entailed managing the company’s strategic development and introduction of new products and services. Before arriving at Hodinkee, Shin was the CTO of the sneaker marketplace Goat Group.
In stepping down from the CEO role, Bateman said in a statement he wanted to focus on his family.
“Jeff is a dynamic leader, one whose expertise and innovative mentality make him the ideal choice to guide Hodinkee into the future,” Ben Clymer, Hodinkee founder and executive chairman, said in a statement. “Jeff comes to the brand with a proven track record of success no matter where he has been, and his contributions to the world of luxury goods have been recognized across the industry. I am excited to have Jeff on board as the company’s new CEO, and on behalf of the people at Hodinkee, welcome him.”
Hodinkee has been adding to its digital presence. Last October, the company debuted Hodinkee Pre-Owned, a platform where watch enthusiasts can buy, sell and trade high-end, used watches. It also tapped Swiss-certified watchmakers and specialty technicians to provide authentication services for the platform.
Fowler’s previous company, Farfetch, has been on a growth path. The company acquired beauty retailer Violet Grey and in its latest quarter saw revenue growth of 35% compared to last year, reaching $2.3 billion.
