CEO

Today it was announced that Ron Johnson is out at J.C. Penney just shortly after being criticized publicly by the company’s largest shareholder, William Ackman, who hired Johnson as CEO in 2011.

Hermès International artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas was among over 500 recipients of the latest wave of France’s Legion of Honor accolades. Since 2009, Dumas has been in his artistic director capacity for four years, prior to which he was co-artistic director from 2006 to 2009. His exact honor: Chevalier, or Knight, of the Legion of Honor, the esteemed French order that dates back to Napoleon Bonaparte, circa 1802. Dumas is a sixth-generation member of the French maison’s founding family; his father, Jean-Louis Dumas, was the brand’s CEO from 1978 to 2006.

Big changes at the very top of the Hearst Tower food chain: Steve Swartz, the publishing company’s chief operating officer since 2011, has been named chief executive officer, succeeding longtime honcho Frank A. Bennack Jr. In the company’s 126-year history, Swartz is only the seventh CEO.

Having stepped on board at Bergdorf Goodman in May of last year, president Joshua Schulman, formerly CEO of Jimmy Choo and executive vice president of the Gucci Group, is already orchestrating grand plans for the 111-year-old luxury retailer and Fifth Avenue landmark. A whopping 40 projects are underway to revitalize the store, which will involve plenty of construction. However, the revamps to the 150,000-square-foot women’s space and the 40,000 square foot men’s space focus on major interiors overhauls more than expanded square footage.

(NEW YORK) Burberry To Swap Milan For London For Menswear Show [Telegraph UK]
Burberry is set to show during the menswear showcase London Collections: Men

Lily Aldridge Designs Debut Clothing Collection [Vogue UK]
The VS mod has designed her first clothing collection in collaboration with Velvet by Graham & Spencer

EXCLUSIVE: V Magazine’s Latest Editorial Has Us Seeing Double [Styleite]
V Magazine reveals its Power Couples issue

A Chat with Viktor & Rolf and ‘CEO of HTML’ Liz Goldwyn on Their Funny New Video Project [Fashionista]
The trio explore their “round” concept

Behold: A Glimpse At The Celia Birtwell For Uniqlo Collection [Refinery29]
Her signature prints have arrived at Uniqlo

Nicole Miller’s affable co-founder and CEO, Bud Konheim, is always a hoot to chat with, non? Let the frank funniness begin! Your story begins with a family fashion business…
It goes back four generations. Pushcart to here, you know? I’m one of the immigrants Obama is talking about.

Elie Tahari is getting a new man in charge. Bob Galvin, formerly president of The Camuto Group, is taking on the CEO title at Tahari. Galvin was responsible for growing The Camuto Group into a successful lifestyle company, which started with affordable fashionable footwear from Vince Camuto, and has grown to be align with moneymaking brands like Tory Burch, Jessica Simpson and Lucky Jeans, to name a few.

Lacoste has a new chief executive officer on board: José Luis Duran is set to succeed Christophe Chenut, helming the croc-festooned brand. In November, Lacoste was acquired by Maus Frères SA, a Swiss retail group which counts brands like Gant, Aigle, and Manor department stores among its roster of properties. Last month, Lacoste’s board convened to appoint Duran to his exec post, as well as Didier Maus’ new title of board president. After four years in the CEO capacity, Chenut is parting ways with Lacoste, but will maintain the CEO title at Lacoste’s global apparel licensee, Devanlay SA. Duran joined Devanlay in August 2011. Prior to his involvement with the Lacoste klatch, Duran was at hybrid supermarket retailer Carrefour, where he was CEO and chairman of the management board.