St. John Knits appoints CEO

American fashion label St. John Knits has appointed former Louis Vuitton boss Geoffroy

van Raemdonck as Chief Executive Officer, to replace Glenn McMahon, who has served as CEO since 2007. Van Raemdonck was most recently served as president of south Europe for Louis Vuitton, where he led company operations in 22 countries, which generated more than one billion dollars in sales. Prior to his time at Louis Vuitton, he also held positions at Limited Brands and The Boston Consulting Group.

"Geoffroy has an unparalleled understanding of global wholesale and retail that will be integral as we move into the next phase of the company's history," said Bernd Beetz, Chairman of St. John Knits. "He is an excellent leader to drive the executive team and to continue to strengthen and grow the business worldwide."

Commenting on his appointment, Van Raemdonck added: "I am honoured to have the opportunity to join an industry force like Bernd Beetz and to further propel this iconic American brand into a phenomenal international business.

"I look forward to working with the Board and executive team to build upon the strong and successful foundation that they have created."

St. John Knits, founded in 1962, has evolved from a family-run business to a global luxury brand. Based in Southern California, the brand is currently sold in 26 countries across the world and has 25 company-owned stores.