EXCLUSIVE: Akris Has a New CEO of the Americas

Swiss fashion house Akris has recruited Balenciaga executive Bonnie Abraham to become its new chief executive officer of the Americas as it continues its focus on retail growth.

Most recently senior vice president of retail for the Americas at Balenciaga, Abraham arrives as Akris plots more boutique openings in key markets, with a new flagship on Madison Avenue in the pipeline, and an expansion of its concession strategy in the U.S. market, where it recently added a Chicago address, bringing its store count in America to nine locations.

“I am honored to join a brand so deeply rooted in innovation and craftsmanship as Akris. I look forward to exploring and expanding the retail and marketing footprint of this storied Swiss fashion house,” Abraham said in a statement shared first with WWD, lauding the brand’s “quietly luxurious” designs.

Earlier in her career Abraham held senior positions in merchandising and wholesale at Chanel, Valentino, Burberry, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, and Gucci.

According to Akris, her “deep understanding and experience in retail, merchandising and wholesale will be instrumental as Akris continues to evolve its omnichannel strategy for the Americas.”

Based at the firm’s New York offices, Abraham reports directly to Melissa Beste, global CEO of Akris.

Abraham succeeds Jimmy Yeh, who resigned earlier this year after less than a year in the role. His predecessor, Peter Herink, had held the position for a decade.

Founded in 1922 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Akris has shown its collections at Paris Fashion Week since 2004. Under the creative direction of Albert Kriemler, the third-generation family-owned fashion house is known for its exceptional fabrics, particularly its double-face cashmere, Swiss cottons and innovative digital printing.

The firm operates 11 additional boutiques in Europe and Asia, subsidiaries in Japan, the United States and South Korea, and has about 300 other points of sale, spanning concessions and wholesale partners.