Pamela Baxter
Breaking news from WWD there is a new queen bee at Christian Dior Couture. Apparently, the brand seeks a new direction and this includes adding LVMH’s cosmetic and perfume division guru Pamela Baxter to its roster as the president of Christian Dior Inc.
So what’s she going to do for Dior?
WWD reports, “Baxter.. [says], while Dior is a fashion house, it has many facets
with categories such as accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and
perfume. In her new role, she will be able to align the various
divisions for a consistent message. “It’s a whole image-driven
business that appeals to a woman and she buys into the whole Dior
look,” Baxter said. “This gives us an opportunity to align the brand
and image from top to bottom.’ “– Amy Ko, Senior Editor
For the whole scoop see below
Photo: WWD
A Big Change at Dior: Baxter Replaces Malone As Head of U.S. Division
Published: Friday, September 21, 2007
NEW YORK — The U.S. division of Christian Dior Couture has made its second change in top management in 17 months.
Pamela
Baxter, president of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s Perfume and
Cosmetics Group, is adding the role of president of Christian Dior Inc.
to her responsibilities, effective Oct. 1. Baxter is replacing Patricia
Malone, who is leaving to pursue other interests.
According to
a Dior statement, “The move reflects Dior’s appreciation of Pamela
Baxter’s success in managing the North American perfumes and cosmetics
business and it looks forward to her leadership in these expanded
responsibilities.”
Baxter is no stranger to the Dior brand. As
the U.S. head of LVMH’s perfume and cosmetics division, her areas
include Christian Dior Perfumes as well as Guerlain and Parfums
Givenchy. Baxter joined LVMH in 2003 from the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc.,
where she was president of Lauder’s Specialty Brands Group. Since then,
the beauty industry veteran has been credited with transforming Dior’s
North American beauty business, which was sleepy and struggling, into a
fashion-forward division by tightening its distribution to focus its
image, and aligning it with the fashion heritage and the apparel’s
distribution.
“I have spent 30 years in the beauty industry,
but fashion has been a passion of mine for a long time,” Baxter said on
Thursday. “I am pleased they are giving me this opportunity to build on
these synergies in the world of Dior.”
Baxter added that, while
Dior is a fashion house, it has many facets with categories such as
accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and perfume. In her new role,
she will be able to align the various divisions for a consistent
message.
“It’s a whole image-driven business that appeals to a
woman and she buys into the whole Dior look,” Baxter said. “This gives
us an opportunity to align the brand and image from top to bottom.”
The
shift in top executives at Dior U.S. is the second in less than two
years. In April 2006, Malone replaced Marla Sabo at the helm amid
growing speculation Dior’s U.S. sales were underperforming, a notion
Dior executives have fervently denied in the past. Malone had been
Gucci’s president prior to joining Dior, and had worked for the Italian
brand for 17 years, through Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole’s revival and
exit.
