Jimmy Choo has a new CEO. The role, which was previously split between the label’s founder Tamara Mellon and managing director Joshua Schulman, has been handed to Frenchman Pierre Denis. Effective immediately, the appointment comes a year after the label was bought by Swiss group Labelux, and a few months after the departure of its two previous directors.

Jimmy Choo’s autumn-winter 2012/2013 ad campaign

Denis takes over the London-based brand following the departure of Joshua Schulman to head up New York department store, Bergdorf Goodman. Denis leaves the position of CEO at John Galliano – which he has held since 2008 – to take up the role at Jimmy Choo. The move also represents for him a departure from LVMH, having held positions in one or other of its entities, including Christian Dior Couture and its Perfumes division, since 1999.

According to Reinhard Mieck, CEO of the Swiss group, forty-year-old Denis is “without question the right person to drive forward the Jimmy Choo business and exploit its enormous growth potential”. The luxury label, whose shoes are still designed by creative duo Sandra Choi and Simon Holloway, is today present in more than 150 stores and concessions in 32 countries.

In its last financial year, Jimmy Choo’s turnover is reported to have stood at nearly 213 million euros – an increase of 34% according to The Independent. Labelux has singled out China as its prima target for expansion in the coming years.