Apple Inc. made its second high-fashion hire this year by naming Angela Ahrendts, CEO of iconic British luxury fashion house Burberry Group plc., as senior vice-president of retail and online stores for the California-based electronics device maker.
Ahrendts will be occupying a newly created post. She will be reporting directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook but is not expected to start working until the spring of 2014. She will lead Apple’s strategic direction, expansion and operation in both retail and online spaces, according to statement released by the company.
“I am profoundly honoured to join Apple in this newly created position next , and very much looking forward to working with the global team to further enrich the consumer experience on and offline,” she said in a statement. “I have always admired the innovation and impact Apple products and service have on people’s lives and hope in some small way I can contribute to the company’s continued success and leadership in changing the world.”
As CEO of Burberry since 2006, Ahrendts led company through a period of global expansion. She was also named highest paid CEO in the United Kingdom in 2012 by CNN Money . She was reported to have earned $26.3 million that year.
Before joining Burberry, she was executive vice-president of Liz Claiborne Inc. She joined that company’s executive team in 1996.
In July this year, Apple also recruited Paul Deneve, former CEO of French Luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent. He is currently serving as vice-president of special projects for Apple.
Apple previous senior vice-president of retail was John Browett. The former CEO of European technology retailer Dixons Retail started working with Apple in April 2012. He lasted only six months.