Luxury footwear brand Manolo Blahnik has appointed Elodie Bougenault to the role of Chief Commercial Officer. She is tasked with driving the label’s strategy globally, with a focus on Asia.
Bougenault joins Manolo Blahnik from luxury lingerie brand La Perla, where she served as Managing Director of EMEA and Head of Global Retail. Previously, Bougenault was General Manager for Asia Pacific at luxury jewelry and watchmaker Boucheron in Hong Kong. She has also held managerial positions in Asia, including at Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs.
In her new role at Manolo Blahnik, Bougenault will be responsible for developing and executing the brand’s global commercial direction across wholesale, retail and digital channels.
In a statement on Tuesday, the luxury footwear brand said it will lead the company’s “ambitious expansion plans,” using its experience in the Asian market to establish a “strong voice in new and existing markets.”
Bougenault will take up her new role on June 26 and will be based at Manolo Blahnik’s London headquarters.
After years of trademark litigation in China, Manolo Blahnik is concentrating on Asia
Andrew Wright, the brand’s current Chief Commercial Officer, who assumed the additional role of President of the Americas as part of the 2019 relaunch, will now permanently focus on America’s growth plans. This includes new stores on both the east and west coasts of its largest market – the US – as well as exploring future opportunities in Central and South America.
“It is my pleasure to assign Elodie Bougenault to lead our global commercial strategy for the company as she has a proven track record and wealth of experience,” said Kristina Blahnik, Managing Director of Manolo Blahnik.
“With her knowledge of the Asian market, she will help us explore and plan for the exciting new opportunities opened up by winning our 22-year IP case at China’s Supreme People’s Court last year. With Elodie’s global perspective on the Manolo Blahnik business and Andrew’s focus on the Americas, we now have a solid foundation to continue executing on our long-term strategic business plan,” added the Managing Director.
The brand’s legal dispute in China was settled in July 2022 after 22 years. Manolo Blahnik had complained to China’s trademark office after an individual in the region filed a trademark for “Manolo & Blahnik” for shoes.
China’s Supreme People’s Court invalidated the illegal trademark, allowing the shoe brand to use its name and sell its shoe offerings in the region.