New Boss at Hugo Boss: Frasers installs David Epstein as Grieder steps down

Hugo Boss chief executive Daniel Grieder is stepping down, and Frasers Group is putting one of its own executives in charge. Grieder leaves at his own request on December 31, 2026, and the supervisory board has appointed David Epstein as CEO from January 1, 2027.

Epstein has spent more than ten years at Frasers, most recently as chief brand partnerships officer since 2024, overseeing brand relationships across its Sport, Premium and Luxury businesses. He previously ran its Premium and Luxury divisions as managing director for five years and helped drive its Elevation Strategy. Supervisory board chairman Michael Murray, who is also Frasers' CEO, praised Epstein's experience in building brands and in premium and luxury retail.

Grieder said the time was right "to hand over to the next generation of leadership." Since 2021 he has relaunched Boss and Hugo with new identities and campaigns aimed at a younger audience, and built an omnichannel platform.

Deputy chairman and employee representative Sinan Piskin noted Murray's commitment to the Metzingen headquarters, a notable reassurance for staff under the new owner.

The handover completes a rapid takeover. Frasers' 38 euros per share offer in June was rejected by Hugo Boss's management and supervisory boards, but it lifted the British group's stake to 47.89 percent. Murray became chairman in September, CFO Yves Müller left, and Frasers crossed 50 percent in October. Deputy CEO Oliver Timm announced his exit this week.

Epstein inherits a business under pressure. Hugo Boss recently cut its 2026 outlook, now expecting a high single-digit decline in currency-adjusted sales and EBIT of 250 to 300 million euros.