TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Burberry replaces CEO after 'disappointing' results

Revenue slid 22 percent to £458 million ($595 million) in Burberry's first quarter, or three months to the end of June.

Ben Perry (AFP)
London
Mon, July 15, 2024 Published on Jul. 15, 2024 Published on 2024-07-15T16:38:51+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Burberry replaces CEO after 'disappointing' results Pedestrians pass the Burberry store as they walk along Regent Street in central London on November 9, 2017. (AFP/Niklas Hallen)

B

ritish fashion label Burberry on Monday announced the immediate departure of chief executive Jonathan Akeroyd as it posted "disappointing" results with the luxury sector pressured by weak Chinese demand.

Akeroyd, 57, departs after less than two and a half years at the helm, while the Briton is being replaced by Joshua Schulman, a former CEO at American fashion brands Michael Kors and Coach.

In a statement, Burberry chair Gerry Murphy described US national Schulman, 52, as "a proven leader with an outstanding record of building global luxury brands and driving profitable growth".

Schulman, who officially joins the group on Wednesday, said he looked "forward to working alongside [creative director] Daniel Lee and the talented teams to drive global growth, delight our customers, and write the next chapter of the Burberry story".

In a separate statement, Murphy said the group's recent "performance is disappointing".

Revenue slid 22 percent to £458 million ($595 million) in Burberry's first quarter, or three months to the end of June.

Prospects

Every Monday

With exclusive interviews and in-depth coverage of the region's most pressing business issues, "Prospects" is the go-to source for staying ahead of the curve in Indonesia's rapidly evolving business landscape.

By registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's

Thank You

for signing up our newsletter!

Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.

View More Newsletter

The 168-year-old label -- famous for its trench coats and trademark red, camel and black check design -- announced plans to cut costs, which involve suspending dividend payments.

Murphy warned that the group risked an operating loss in its first half.

Burberry's share price slumped 14.5 percent to £7.57 following the announcements, making it by far the largest faller on London's top-tier FTSE 100 index, which was flat overall in morning trade.

"Burberry grabbed the headlines in company news, bringing forward its first quarter update amid some developments which came as a shock," noted Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor.

"The level of the group's appeal has been thwarted by weakening consumer demand, especially in the likes of China."

Burberry's share price is down 46 percent since the start of the year.

Highlighting troubles across the luxury fashion sector, Gucci owner Kering in April issued a profit warning, citing a weak Chinese economy.

China on Monday posted lower-than-expected growth of 4.7 percent in the second quarter.

That represented the slowest rate of expansion since early 2023, when China was emerging from a crippling zero-Covid policy that strangled growth.

Retail sales -- a key gauge of consumption -- rose just two percent in June, down from 3.7 percent growth in May.

"Chinese sales can no longer be taken for granted" for the likes of Burberry, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, said Monday.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.