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Portmeirion Group has announced the appointment of former Le Creuset regional chief executive, Michael Scheepers, to the role of group brand and commercial director as part of a wider refresh of its senior leadership team.
Scheepers joins the Stoke-on-Trent-based homewares group after more than nine years at Le Creuset, where he held senior roles including group commercial director and regional chief executive for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
In his new role, Scheepers will lead Portmeirion’s global ecommerce, own retail and brand marketing teams, alongside responsibility for UK sales. He will report to chief executive Mike Raybould and joins the executive team as the company pursues a multi-year transformation programme aimed at strengthening its product portfolio and commercial performance.
The appointment follows the recent hiring of Victoria Brabender as the group’s first product strategy director. Brabender has more than 25 years of experience in buying and merchandising, having worked at Marks and Spencer, Monsoon Accessorize and La Senza. She spent the past decade at Emma Bridgewater, most recently as product and range director.
The company has also promoted Sam Pearce to the newly created role of group chief operating officer. Pearce, formerly global HR director, has been with the business for more than 20 years and will succeed global operations director Mick Knapper, who plans to retire next year after 27 years with the group.
Pearce will oversee operations and delivery of key initiatives, including the ‘Made-in-Stoke’ onshoring programme announced earlier this year.
Raybould said: “The success of our transformation plan rests on the strength of our leadership team to execute it, so I’m delighted to welcome Michael and Victoria to the business, as well as seeing Sam promoted into a new senior operational role.”
Scheepers added: “Portmeirion Group has a stable of brands steeped in the rich heritage of British craftsmanship and design. The company is at an exciting point in its transformation journey and I’m looking forward to working with Mike and the team to help deliver on the significant opportunities ahead.”
