LONDON – Tom Mendenhall is taking over as chief executive officer of Stella McCartney, stepping into the role held by Amandine Ohayon, who is leaving the company after almost two years.
Mendenhall was formerly brand president of Polo and Double RL at Ralph Lauren and spent more than eighteen years working with Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole as executive vice president, chief operating officer at Tom Ford, and worldwide director of merchandising at Gucci.
Last year, he opened Jamestown Hudson with his partner James Scully, who will continue to manage that business.
McCartney, who was once in business with Gucci Group, and who worked closely with Ford and De Sole in the years after launching her brand, said Mendenhall’s “extensive experience in all facets of luxury fashion will be invaluable in propelling the business forward and building a strong future. I know that Tom shares my vision for the brand and the ethical values that are part of our DNA.”
Mendenhall described Stella McCartney as “a powerful brand, led by a powerful and compassionate woman, and I am honored to now be able to partner with her and her incredible team around the world for the next phase of the company’s development.”
In a statement, McCartney and the board said they were grateful to Ohayon for her “entrepreneurial spirit, accomplishments and steady leadership through the separation from LVMH. We are deeply appreciative of her efforts, and Amandine will continue to advise us in this time of leadership transition.”
Amandine Ohayon is stepping down as CEO of Stella McCartney.
MIGUEL DE SAGARRA
McCartney said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank Amandine for her great work and for the successes we shared together. I wish her the very best in her future projects.”
Ohayon took over as CEO in late 2023, replacing Gabriele Maggio. Before joining, she served as CEO of Pronovias, and had spent much of her career in the beauty industry, working with brands including YSL Beauty and Armani Beauty.
She said the timing “now feels right for me to begin a new chapter. I will always remain a passionate supporter of Stella’s mission, and the incredible teams that are redefining sustainable luxury. I wish Tom all the success.”
Stella McCartney’s company announced in January that it was buying back the minority stake in the brand held by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, “after more than five years of fruitful collaboration.”
The group described the move as “a new chapter for Stella McCartney, after working closely with LVMH to strengthen the fundamentals and governance of the house.”
Founded in 2001, Stella McCartney has 36 directly owned stores and 11 franchise stores worldwide.