Anya Hindmarch to return as MD of handbag firm

Anya Hindmarch has announced she is to return as managing director of the handbag company which bears her name.

The company’s founder stepped down from the role eight years ago after the business was bought by new owners, Hindmarch has remained on the company’s board as creative director, where she has remained since quitting as CEO. She will succeed Antoine Bejui, who departed from his role as CEO last month.

News comes a month after the brand, then owned by Mayhoola For Investments, saw 75% of its shares bought out by the Marandi family for an undisclosed sum. Hindmarch said she was focused on “turning around the business”, ensuring that it was “future proof”.

In 2017, sales were at £37.2m, while it saw an EBITDA loss of £17m, since then the company has closed eight of its stores in the UK and Japan in order to reduce losses. The company’s widening losses led to Mayhoola For Investments putting the handbag retailer on the market.