NEW YORK CITY — August 8, 2018 — rag & bone announces today that Stefanie Strack has been named as its CEO.
Strack’s appointment will become effective September 10, 2018, at which time she will also be appointed to the rag & bone Board of Directors. Marcus Wainwright, the current CEO will assume a new title as founder & chief brand officer.
“I am beyond thrilled that Stefanie will be joining the company and I see her as a true partner,” said Wainwright. “Stefanie brings us a wealth of experience in key strategic areas and personifies the rag & bone woman. Her coming on board allows me to focus on what I love, which is designing great product and continuing to build the rag & bone brand. Rag & bone has always challenged the status quo, always trying new ways of doing things. I know that Stefanie will continue that tradition of challenge and innovation leading us to an awesome future as a brand with a purpose and a singular focus on the customer.”
Strack brings fresh perspective, energy, and strong leadership to rag & bone where she will focus on digital transformation and deepening the consumer connection globally across wholesale and direct-to-consumer. As an advocate for a more elevated, connected consumer experience, she will challenge the traditional product cycle and ignite the brand to become more personalized and responsive. Strack’s leadership style is uniquely suited to cultivate an inclusive and purpose-driven brand, which remains true to rag & bone’s focus on originality, quality and authenticity.
“As a professional, I have been inspired by rag & bone for years, and as a customer the brand has held a unique place in my heart,” said Strack. “Authenticity is the essence of rag & bone, and I see that reflected throughout the rag & bone team. I am excited to be a part of this incredible culture, one that has purpose, passion and inspiration. We will create a brilliant future for those inside our company and those we serve.”
Strack has spent the last 14 years at Nike Inc. in a variety of operational and business roles, and has been an integral part of the Nike’s Corporate Leadership Team. Most recently, she held the position of vice president/general manager of Nike Express Lane, leading a global effort to meet evolving consumer needs with improved speed to market. Strack’s vision led to the development of a new division within Nike tasked with transforming all key direct-to-consumer functions: consumer sensing, data and analytics, design, supply chain and manufacturing. As noted in Nike’s earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, Express Lane has created substantial impact and is now the fastest-growing product engine, serving as a key focal point of Nike’s speed initiative.
Prior to leading Nike Express Lane, Strack served as the general manager of Nike Skateboarding. In that role, she focused on harnessing the passion of young millennials while bringing digital innovations to both the direct and wholesale marketplace. Strack now looks forward to bringing these rich insights and her multi-functional expertise home to rag & bone.
Through her culture-first, inclusive approach, Strack has become an innovative thought leader in the footwear and apparel industry and her extensive experience in leading, innovating and scaling visionary initiatives, will guide the evolution of rag & bone.
Her arrival comes as rag & bone prepares to accelerate its direct-to-consumer efforts. Having already become known as an industry disruptor, this appointment signals the next evolution in a brand consistently recognized for its uniquely individualistic and innovative approach.
Posted August 9, 2018
Source: rag & bone
