One year after leaving Esprit, Anders Kristiansen has been given a new management position: On March 1, the Dane will become the new CEO of the Swedish fast fashion retailer Na-kd. Kristiansen will take over the executive chair from Jarno Vanhatapio, the e-commerce specialist announced last week. The specialist magazine Textilwirtschaft had previously reported on the personnel.
Vanhatapio, who founded Na-kd in 2016, will continue to support the company as a “strategic advisor” in the areas of product, brand and innovation after the change in leadership and remain a member of the board of directors as the third-largest shareholder, the company said.
Kristiansen pushed through extensive reforms at Esprit
After taking over as CEO in June 2018, Kristiansen undertook radical reforms at clothing retailer Esprit. By closing shops and other austerity measures, he tried to restructure the company, which had been in crisis for years. Among other things, the German subsidiaries went through a protective shield procedure in 2020, during which deep cuts were made in the branch network.
However, Kristiansen’s position began to falter after investor North Point Talent Limited became a major shareholder in Esprit in summer 2020. A first attempt by the financial company to replace the management failed, but a few months later Esprit announced that Kristiansen would be leaving his post at the end of February 2021. In the meantime, his successor Mark Daley has also left the group.
The new CEO will drive Na-kd’s international expansion
Before joining Esprit, Kristiansen was CEO of the British clothing chain New Look. In the course of his career, he was also responsible for the China business of the Danish textile company Bestseller Group, among other things as Vice President. At Na-kd he should now continue the rapid growth course. According to its own statements, the company had sales of more than 250 million US dollars (221 million euros) last year and was able to almost double its annual revenues since 2019.
Founder Vanhatapio has high hopes for his designated successor: “The Board of Directors and I have been looking for a new CEO to lead the next phase of Na-kd’s global expansion. We found that person in Anders,” he said in a statement. “He has the right entrepreneurial energy and knowledge to continue our growth story. He is an internationally established name and his track record in our industry speaks for itself.”
Meanwhile, Kristiansen is already looking forward to the new task: “In just a short time, Na-kd has made an impressive journey and built a fashion empire in the European market,” he explained. “With my experience to date, I am very much looking forward to expanding to other continents and further establishing the company as a leading player in sustainable fashion.”