Helen of Troy, Ted Baker CEOs exit, Snap hires ex-Meta execs

Helen of Troy CEO to retire, makes CFO change

Julien Mininberg is set to retire from the role of CEO at Helen of Troy, effective March 1, 2024. Mininberg spent the last decade as CEO of the OXO and Hydro Flask parent, and has served in the consumer products industry for the last 34 years.

Minniberg will be succeeded by Noel Geoffroy, who is currently chief operating officer. Geoffroy joined the company last year, bringing 25 years of experience in CPG at Sanofi Consumer Health, Kellogg’s, Heinz, and Procter & Gamble. Geoffroy was the key architect of the company’s transformation plan, called Project Pegasus.

Helen of Troy is also seeing a change at CFO. Matt Osberg will leave the company after seven years to pursue an opportunity closer to family in Minnesota. The company is bringing back Brian Grass to serve as interim CFO. He previously had a 15-year tenure with the company,

In its most recent quarter, the company reported that core net sales declined 16.2% and core adjusted diluted EPS declined 19.9% year-over-year.

Ted Baker CEO to depart following acquisition

Rachel Osborne and other executives are set to depart apparel retailer Ted Baker as it settles into new ownership under Authentic Brands Group.

The news comes as ABG said it signed operating agreements in the UK and Europe for the brand with PDS Group and AARC, respectively.

Along with Osborne, departing executives include Chief Financial Officer Marc Dench, Chief People Officer Peter Collyer and Group Commercial and Business Development Director Helen Costello. The changes are “part of a broader transformation process as Ted Baker shifts towards Authentic’s licensing model, which partners with leading operators to optimize brand value in the marketplace,” according to a news release.

Snap hires Meta execs

Snapchat parent Snap Inc. hired a pair of executives from Meta Platforms as it seeks to expand in advertising. The hires are as follows:

Patrick Harris will serve as SVP of partnerships. This new role is designed to expand personalized use of augmented reality, which was on display in a recent partnership with concert promoter Live Nation Inc.

David Sommer will be head of verticals, tasked with working more closely with CPGs to use Snap’s advertising tools. Along with 11 years at Meta, Sommer most recently served as chief commercial officer at rewards platform Fetch.

Vera Bradley makes change at CFO

Handbag and luggage retailer Vera Bradley is bringing in a new CFO as part of a wider reorganization.

Michael Schwindle will join the company as CFO, succeeding John Enwright in early June.

The company also made several changes in marketing, ecommerce, product design, and product development areas that will result in the elimination of approximately 25 corporate positions.

Anthropologie makes key leadership changes

Lifestyle brand Anthropologie Group announced a series of leadership changes. These included:

Anu Narayanan was promoted to president of women's: apparel, accessories, weddings and beauty. Narayanan joined in 2018, and has led the women's apparel and accessory business.

Holly Thrasher was promoted to chief merchandising officer of apparel and weddings. Thrasher came to the brand in 2021 from Nordstrom, where she spent 18 years.

Aaron Mutscheller is joining Anthropologie as president of home and terrain, overseeing home and garden. He previously held leadership positions at Williams Sonoma, Serena & Lily and Nickey Kehoe.