Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Vice President operating in the Fashion space. If you think a Vice President is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Kelly Kowal
Executive Vice President, Farfetch Platform Solutions (FPS) of Farfetch
As Managing Director of Farfetch Black & White, Kelly’s role is focused on leading her team to build revolutionary multi-channel e-commerce solutions and operating e-commerce sites for luxury brands and retailers. Kelly sits on the Farfetch Executive Board. Kelly joined Farfetch in 2010 to build and lead all digital marketing initiatives including customer acquisition, retention and engagement. Within her time at Farfetch, she also led the international growth and development strategy, overseeing expansion and localisation for all markets. Kelly’s background is in internet marketing and e-commerce, with her experience spanning over 15 years.
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About Farfetch: Farfetch is an online luxury fashion retail platform.
Sandrine Deveaux
Executive Vice President, Store of the Future of Farfetch
Sandrine is at the helm of Farfetch’s retail innovation vision ‘Store of the Future’ and is responsible for developing, executing and rolling out new, in-store technologies across Farfetch’s community of retail partners. Under Deveaux’s leadership, her team are focused on developing a pioneering mix of technology that will shape the retail experience of the future. Deveaux’s marketing, omni-channel and e-commerce expertise was honed in her previous roles at Harvey Nichols as multi-channel director and director of marketing and e-commerce at Matchesfashion.com. Sandrine also previously held roles at AOL and Bloomberg Media. Deveaux graduated from French business school ISC and holds a master’s degree in technology from ESSEC.
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About Farfetch: Farfetch is an online luxury fashion retail platform.
Steve Murray
Executive Vice President, Strategic Projects of VF
Steve Murray is Executive Vice President, Strategic Projects at VF Corporation. He has more than 30 years of experience in the apparel and footwear industry. In his current role, Steve partners with VF’s Senior Leadership Team and Brand Presidents to drive and deliver integrated strategic projects across brands, functions and the enterprise. Prior to his current role, Steve served as President of the Vans® brand following VF’s acquisition of the brand in 2004, during which time many of the Vans foundational strategies were established and annual revenue for the brand tripled to approximately $1 billion. In 2009, Steve was appointed President of VF’s Action Sports coalition, where he was responsible for overseeing the Vans , Reef and Pro-Tec brands . A British citizen, Steve left VF in 2010, moving back to his native UK, before re-joining the company in April 2018. He has held several leadership roles with iconic youth brands. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Airwair International (Dr. Martens) and was responsible for leading the company’s transformation from a manufacturing-led, family owned entity to a consumer-focused, private equity-backed, global retailer. He also served as Global Brand President, Urban Outfitters and EMEA President for Deckers Brands. Earlier in his career, Steve was the Global Head of Apparel for Reebok International. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Studies from Middlesex University.
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About VF: VF offers a diverse portfolio of iconic outdoor and activity-based lifestyle and work-wear brands.
John Higson
Executive Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Latin America of Avon Products
John Higson is Executive Vice President of Avon’s Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and Latin America (LATAM) regions. He has been responsible for end-to-end operations across EMEA since 2012, and assumed leadership of LATAM in January 2016. Mr. Higson is also a member of the Executive Committee. From 2014 through 2015, Mr. Higson served as Head of Global Field Operations, providing assessment and advisory support to the sales teams in Avon’s top 12 markets. Prior to this role, Mr. Higson was Senior Vice President, Global Commercial Operations. Before that, he was Senior Vice President of Global Direct Selling and Business Model Innovation, with responsibility for leading and developing Avon’s initiatives and strategies for its direct-selling channel. Mr. Higson has also served as: Senior Vice President, Central & Eastern Europe; General Manager, Avon Poland; Head of Global Sales Development; and General Manager, Avon Hungary. Mr. Higson joined Avon U.K. in 1985 as a management Associate. He went on to hold the positions of Division Manager, Sales Planner and Regional Director before his appointment as General Manager, Avon Hungary in 1993. Mr. Higson studied Economics and Public Policy at the University of Leeds.
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About Avon Products: Avon Products, Inc. (Avon) is a manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products.
Jon Shimp
Vice President Risk Management of Louis Vuitton
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About Avivia Health, Kin Wellness, Louis Vuitton: Louis Vuitton is a French fashion house and luxury retail company.
