Burberry's Christopher Bailey confirms his brand commitment ahead of exiting CEO role

On Thursday during an analyst presentation, the influential designer sought to reassure shareholders that he has no plans to leave the 161-year old quintessentially British luxury label. The news comes in the wake of his announcement last year, to end his eight-year stint wearing two caps, as both Creative Director and Chief Executive Officer.

After handing over his executive position to Marco Gobbetti on July 4, and being appointed the role ofPresident, Bailey will pour all of his efforts into piloting the Burberry Prorsum, Burberry London and Thomas Burberry lines, on a purely creative level.

In the fashion industry, the Yorkshire-born designer is regarded as something of a game-changer for driving Burberry into the digital age.

Spearheading innovative interactive ad campaigns and live-streamed runway events and as of last year, enabling customers to snap up pieceshot off the runway the minute the show ends -- are some of the highlights of Bailey's ground-breaking work at CEO level.

The re-shuffle at Burberry's HQ comes in a year of transition for the fashion house as it strives to keep up with what it considers to be "a fast-changing" luxury goods market.

With a firm management background from his tenures at European covetable high-end brands Céline, Moschino and Givenchy, Marco Gobbetti is tasked with the challenge of rebalancing Burberry's books.

"With his extensive experience in the sector, we will build on these foundations to elevate and strengthen the brand further and take Burberry to the next level as a global luxury retail and digital business. I am excited to work closely with him in this next chapter,” enthused Bailey.

If Marco Gobbetti's stint at Céline is anything to go by, Christopher Bailey is likely to enjoy greater creative freedom within the company.

A result that is tipped to be well-received by Bailey's loyal followers who have become accustomed to the designer's cool design credentials, devotion to craftsmanship and obsession with music that underpins Burberry's DNA.