Portmeirion Group has made two high-profile additions to its senior team and confirmed a key internal promotion as the business accelerates its transformation strategy.
The Stoke-on-Trent–based homewares group has appointed former Le Creuset executive Michael Scheepers as Group Brand and Commercial Director. Mr Scheepers spent more than nine years with the premium cookware brand in senior roles, including Group Commercial Director and regional CEO for EMEA, where he led brand elevation and commercial transformation across Europe, the Middle East and India.
At Portmeirion, he will oversee global e-commerce, own retail, brand marketing and the UK sales division, reporting directly to Group CEO Mike Raybould.
Mr Scheepers’ arrival follows the recent appointment of Victoria Brabender as Portmeirion’s first Product Strategy Director. Ms Brabender brings over 25 years’ buying and merchandising experience across brands such as Marks & Spencer, Monsoon Accessorize and La Senza, and spent the past decade shaping product direction as Product and Range Director at Emma Bridgewater. She will work closely with sales, design and marketing teams to build a future-focused product strategy and draw on the Group’s extensive design archives.
The company has also promoted long-serving executive Sam Pearce to the newly created role of Group Chief Operating Officer. Ms Pearce, previously Global HR Director, has been with Portmeirion for more than 20 years and will now lead global operations, including the Group’s “Made-in-Stoke” onshoring initiative. She succeeds Global Operations Director Mick Knapper, who will retire next year after 27 years with the business.
CEO Mike Raybould said the new appointments strengthen the Group’s ability to deliver on its transformation plan: “The success of our transformation plan rests on the strength of our leadership team to execute it. I’m delighted to welcome Michael and Victoria, and to see Sam take on a new senior operational role.
Mr Scheepers, Ms Brabender and Ms Pearce bring a strong mix of commercial expertise and outstanding homewares experience. They are already adding huge value, enabling us to accelerate progress and elevate our heritage brands to a wider global consumer.”
Mr Scheepers added: “Portmeirion Group has a stable of brands steeped in the rich heritage of British craftsmanship and design. The Company is at an exciting point in its transformation journey, and I’m looking forward to helping deliver on the significant opportunities ahead.”
The appointments form part of Portmeirion’s ongoing drive to strengthen leadership, sharpen product strategy and expand its global reach across its portfolio of heritage homeware brands.
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