Nicole Farhi sees chief executive officer leave

By

Florent Gilles

Published
May 7, 2013

François Steiner has left as chief executive officer at Nicole Fahri, a position he had held since 2012. The former Sonia Rykiel and Kenzo executive has chosen to return to Paris for personal reasons, the company has said in a statement. His role will be filled by Sion Kearsey, managing director of investment fund Kelso Place which owns the label, and Joanna Sykes, who has been artistic director since 2012.

Nicole Fahri was founded 30 years ago as part of British retail group French Connection before being sold to OpenGate Capital in 2010. OpenGate subsequently sold its stake in the company to Kelso Place two years later in January 2012. Joanna Sykes, ex-Aquascutum, was recruited shortly after the changeover to lead the brand to the catwalks of London Fashion Week.