Shein appoints investor as group vice chair

Fast fashion brand Shein has announced the appointment of investor Marcelo Claure as its new group vice chairman.

Claure, who until recently served as CEO of SoftBank Group International, joined Shein in January 2023 as chairman of Shein Latin America.

In that time, he has overseen the launch of Shein Marketplace in Brazil and the commitment of $150m (£122m) USD to localise Shein’s manufacturing operations in the country.

He will continue serving in his capacity as chairman of Shein Latin America in addition to his new role as group vice chairman.

In 1997 Claure launched global wireless distribution and services company Brightstar before selling it to SoftBank in 2014.

Later, as CEO and chairman of American telecommunications firm Sprint, he led the $195bn merger between Sprint and T-Mobile in 2020.

Donald Tang, executive chairman, said: “Marcelo’s leadership and relationships have been instrumental in strengthening Shein’s business development and strategy in key markets. We have made significant strides as we look to localise our business for the benefit of our customers and the communities in which they live around the world.

“We are fortunate to have Marcelo’s unparalleled expertise at scaling global companies as we further expand Shein’s marketplace model, localization strategy and other key initiatives to further meet the needs of our customers in over 150 markets.”

Claure added: “Shein has redefined the supply chain and manufacturing model to bring customers around the world personalised fashion in a way that no other global company has done before.

“What attracted me to Shein, as both an investor and operator, is its unique business model and the way that it empowers designers and local suppliers in communities around the world. I look forward to working with the talented Shein team as the company delivers on its mission to make the beauty of fashion accessible to all.”