Burberry announced this morning (March 1, 2018) that ex-Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci will take on the role of chief creative officer at the label effective March 12th. Tisci will show his first collection at the label during the spring 2018 presentations in September. Burberry shares rose in response to the news.
Tisci will fill the very sturdy shoes of designer Christopher Bailey who led the label as both chief executive and creative director for 17 years. Bailey announced he was stepping down in October 2017 and showed his final collection with the label during London Fashion Week in mid February.
Bailey was viewed as a top-notch creative lead, but garnered more mixed reviews from investors in his role as chief executive.
The Tisci hire follows fellow Italian Marco Gobbetti, who took over the role of chief executive from Bailey in July 2017. Tisci and Gobbetti worked together at Givenchy where Tisci was creative director from 2004-2017 and Gobbetti was chief executive from 2004-2008.
On Instagram, Tisci wrote, “I am honored and delighted to be joining Burberry as its new chief creative officer and reuniting with Marco Gobbetti. I have an enormous respect for Burberry’s British heritage ad global appeal and I am excited about the potential of this exceptional brand.”
Tisci stepped down from his role as artistic director at LVMH-owned Givenchy in February 2017. His last collection with the Milanese label was the spring 2017 couture collection.