Global Fashion Group unveils changes to executive team

Global Fashion Group has made several changes within its executive team for the next phase of its development. 

Helen Hickman will succeed Matthew Price as CFO and join the executive team from August 2023. Price is leaving GFG after a handover period at the end of August, to pursue new professional opportunities.   

Hickman is currently director of group finance and has been with GFG for over 7 years, acting as Price’s deputy. She is a strong finance professional with over 20 years of experience and has been instrumental in building the GFG finance function, preparing its IPO and overseeing the core accounting, controlling and FP&A responsibilities of the CFO remit. 

Regarding her promotion Hickman said: “I am excited to be appointed as CFO and to take the reins over from Matthew. I have had the pleasure of working with a highly professional and diverse finance team at GFG and am looking forward to applying my knowledge of our global operations to further drive our strategic and financial priorities together with the executive team.”

Price said: “It has been a great privilege to spend over four years as part of such a dynamic business. I have valued working with talented colleagues and leave GFG in the knowledge that the business is well positioned for this next phase of development with Helen as CFO and a strong executive team, focused on delivering against GFG’s strategy.”

This latest transition reflects the transformation of GFG’s executive team over the last 6 months to align with the company’s focus on continuing to advance its platform vision across three operating regions. 

Effective from 14 August 2023, the management board will be composed of Christoph Barchewitz, CEO, and Gunjan Soni, group COO & CEO of GFG’s SEA business. In early June, Jere Calmes was appointed CEO of ANZ after a successful three year tenure as CEO of Lamoda, which GFG sold in late 2022. 

Barchewitz continues to directly drive the execution of our investment plan in LATAM as interim CEO, while a process to appoint a new LATAM CEO is underway. Nicolle Strauss, takes on responsibility for leading GFG’s people & planet positive agenda as chief people & sustainability officer. 

Barchewitz said: “Helen’s appointment as CFO is testament to the strength of our senior leadership team and robust succession planning. Matthew’s impact on GFG extends far beyond financial strategy and performance. He played a crucial role in enabling our IPO, built a strong finance team and drove operational excellence across the group. 

“We are hugely thankful for Matthew’s contributions to the business and wish him all the very best for the future.”