Although women account for two-thirds of clothing sales around the world, it’s men who occupy the top positions at fashion companies — both on the creative side and, perhaps less surprisingly, on the financial.
Of the 12 people on the executive committee of LVMH, fashion’s biggest luxury conglomerate, only one is a woman — Chantal Gaemperle, head of human resources and synergies. And among its 15 fashion and leather goods houses — Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Berluti, Loewe, Fendi, Loro Piana, Celine, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, Donna Karan, Thomas Pink, Marc Jacobs, Nicholas Kirkwood, and Edun — only Donna Karan and Loewe have female CEOs. Even though there is a shortage of female leaders in luxury brands, it is high time to celebrate those who have broken the glass ceiling. Here are the female CEOs in fashion to follow.
- Maureen Chiquet, Chanel
Maureen Chiquet, a 52-year-old St. Louis native, was promoted to the role of global CEO of the privately owned Chanel in 2007, having served as the U.S. president and chief operating officer of its fragrance, beauty, and jewelry division for four years prior. Unlike most CEOs of famous French fashion houses, Chiquet is neither French nor did she have much experience in luxury before taking the reins at Chanel, having worked at Gap Inc. for most of her career, where she helped build the Old Navy brand and served for a short time as president of Banana Republic. She got her start in the industry working in the marketing department of L’Oreal in Paris after graduating from Yale with a degree in film and literature. Chanel brought in $7.5 billion in sales and a net income of $1.4 billion in 2014.
- Sharen Jester Turney, Victoria’s Secret
Sharen Jester Turney, 59, an Oklahoma native, has been CEO of Victoria’s Secret since 2006. She had been with the company for six years as president and CEO of Victoria’s Secret Direct, its catalog, and its e-commerce division, before taking on the top role. Before that, she was the executive vice president of merchandising, creative production, advertising, and public relations, as well as senior vice president and general merchandise manager of Neiman Marcus. Turney graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in business education in 1979 and got her start in retail working in the men’s department at the now-defunct Foley’s department store in Houston. In 2005, Victorias’ Secret generated sales of $4.5 billion; last year, that number hit $7.2 billion, netting Turney a total compensation of $10.6 million.
- Grita Loebsack, Kering Luxury
Grita Loebsack is a member of Kering’s executive committee, overseeing Kering’s portfolio of emerging brands, including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane, Stella McCartney, and Tomas Maier. A German by birth, she was hired for the role in September from Unilever, where she served as executive vice president of global skin care for three years.
- Vera Wang
The daughter of well-to-do Chinese immigrants, Vera Wang, 66, grew up in New York and pursued a career as a figure skater before graduating from Sarah Lawrence and joining the staff of Vogue in 1971, where she worked for 15 years as a senior fashion editor. In 1987, Wang joined Ralph Lauren as design director for accessories, going on to open her bridal boutique at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan in 1990 after being frustrated with the lack of options for her wedding. Today her business spans ready-to-wear, fragrance, beauty, accessories, and home.