Coach, Inc. (NYSE: COH), a leading marketer of modern classic American
accessories, today announced the next phase of its international growth
strategy focused on Asia. This news follows recent announcements of
entry into the UK, France, Spain, Ireland and Portugal, and includes the
creation of a new international retail organization with three major
Asian hubs: Japan, Mainland China and Other Asia Markets. It also
announces the addition of three senior executives who will enable Coach
to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities that exist for the
brand in the region.
Mr. Victor Luis, previously President and CEO, Coach Japan & Coach
China, has been promoted to the newly-created position of President,
Coach Retail International with responsibility for all of Coach’s
directly-owned businesses outside North America. Mr. Luis will return to
New York and report to Lew Frankfort, Chairman and CEO of Coach.
Concurrently, the company announced the appointment of Mr. Daniel
DiCicco as President and CEO of Coach Japan, reporting to Mr. Luis. Mr.
DiCicco joined Coach from Sony Music Entertainment (Asia), where he was
most recently President, Asia Region.
The company also announced that Andre Cohen, currently President and CEO
of Coach China, will assume the newly created position of President and
CEO, Coach Asia with responsibility for Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore,
Malaysia, and any future directly-operated businesses in the region,
reporting to Victor Luis. Also joining the company later this fall and
reporting to Mr. Cohen is Nicolas Villeger as Vice President, General
Manager of Coach Singapore and Malaysia. Mr. Villeger is currently CEO
of Longchamp in Japan.
Finally, taking over responsibility for Mainland China operations of
Coach China will be Jonathan Seliger, who joins Coach as President and
CEO of Coach China based in Shanghai, reporting to Victor Luis. Mr.
Seliger joins Coach from the Richemont Group, where for the last five
years he has been Managing Director of Alfred Dunhill in China.
The establishment of the Coach Retail International business unit
complements Coach’s existing international business led by Ian Bickley,
President of Coach International, who has responsibility for new market
development and the management of strategic alliances, joint ventures
and wholesale distributorships outside North America.
Mr. Frankfort said, "Coach is now well-positioned to drive our
directly-operated international retail businesses while continuing to
accelerate global new market development and growth through our
partnerships around the world. Having proven Coach veterans such as Ian
Bickley, Victor Luis, and Andre Cohen in key roles, strengthened by the
appointment of these three new, seasoned executives will enable Coach to
intensify our focus on our international business and accelerate our
prospects for global growth. These new leaders demonstrate Coach’s deep
commitment to international expansion, notably in Asia.”
Coach, with headquarters in New York, is a leading American marketer of
fine accessories and gifts for women and men, including handbags,
women’s and men’s small leather goods, business cases, weekend and
travel accessories, footwear, watches, outerwear, sun wear, and related
accessories. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select
department stores and specialty stores, through the Coach catalog in the
U.S. by calling 1-800-223-8647 and through Coach’s website at www.coach.com.
Coach’s shares are traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol COH.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
management's current expectations. These statements can be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should,"
"expect," "intend," "estimate," "are positioned to," "continue,"
"project," "guidance," "forecast," "anticipated," or comparable terms.
Future results may differ materially from management's current
expectations, based upon risks and uncertainties such as expected
economic trends, the ability to anticipate consumer preferences, the
ability to control costs, etc. Please refer to Coach’s latest Annual
Report on Form 10-K for a complete list of risk factors.
