There’s another major change at the John Varvatos brand.
Catherine Jobling, chief operating officer for AllSaints, the U.K.-based company that owns both AllSaints and Varvatos, will be exiting the company at the end of October. There are no plans to replace her, according to sources, and the remaining leadership team is going to be charged with taking on the day-to-day operations upon her departure.
A spokesperson from AllSaints confirmed that Jobling will be stepping down after seven “hugely successful years with the company,” but provided no other details.
“When I became CEO of AllSaints in 2018 my first big decision was to ask Catherine to join us as our chief operating officer, and I am so glad that I did,” said Peter Woods, chief executive officer of AllSaints. “Over the past seven years she has helped us achieve so much, expanding our product proposition, evolving our store aesthetic, sharpening our execution, and elevating our brands. Her energy and talent have made a real difference across our business and inspired everyone who has worked with her during her time here. We’re hugely grateful for everything she’s done for AllSaints and John Varvatos, and we wish her every success for the future.”
Jobling added: “I’ve loved every moment of the incredible seven years that I’ve spent at this fantastic company. I’m hugely proud of what we’ve achieved so far at AllSaints and John Varvatos, and it’s been a real privilege to work with such talented and passionate people. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and I wish Pete and the team all the very best for the future.”
Late last month AllSaints promoted two executives to senior management positions at both AllSaints and John Varvatos. Alex Didymiotis was named chief people officer and Alfie Meekings was named chief transformation and technology officer. Didymiotis, who joined the company in April 2024, was formerly global people and culture director, and Meekings was global director of transformation. He joined AllSaints in November 2024.
In August, AllSaints cut what it termed a “small number” of positions it deemed redundant, according to published reports in the U.K.
For the year ended Feb. 3, 2024, AllSaints posted a 0.6 percent gain in total revenue to 459.5 million pounds. That included a 0.6 percent gain at the AllSaints brands to 393.5 million pounds and flat revenue of 66 million pounds at John Varvatos. Operating profit, however, was up substantially more, rising 40 percent to 39.9 million pounds.
Jobling joined AllSaints in January 2019 as chief operating officer. Before that, she spent 12 years at Ted Baker as that company’s womenswear director. In her time at AllSaints, Jobling paid particular attention to the Varvatos brand, recently overseeing the opening of the company’s new SoHo store, which was its 17th freestanding boutique and marked its return to the neighborhood where it opened its first store in 2000. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of John Varvatos and the brand created a special 25-piece anniversary collection to commemorate that milestone that is being sold in the store.
At the time of the store opening in September, Jobling said the John Varvatos brand was performing well, despite macroeconomic challenges, with a steady wholesale channel and strong sales in its full-price stores.
The John Varvatos brand, now being designed by Karl Aberg, also returned to New York Fashion Week in September 2024 with an elaborate presentation at an Upper East Side townhouse.
The John Varvatos brand was purchased by Lion Capital, the private equity owner of AllSaints, in 2020 for around $97 million and it was integrated into AllSaints the next year.