American luxury label Tory Burch has named Thiabault Villet as its new president for APAC.
Villet's role will commence on December 28 and he will oversee all aspects of the brand’s operations in the Asia-Pacific region, reporting to CEO Pierre-Yves Roussel.
Tory Burch recognises the region as a key market, having opened its first APAC boutique in 2010 and growing to 146 free-standing stores across China, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Speaking on the announcement, Roussel said that Villet's appointment demonstrates the brand's commitment to the region.
"The development of our business in Asia is a strategic priority for us.
"Recruiting an executive with Thibault’s depth of experience is a testament to our continued commitment to the region.
"His entrepreneurial mindset and impressive track record in our industry make him a natural fit and a welcome addition to our team.
"I look forward to working with him," he said.
Villet joins the business from One in Beauty the entity combining the Revlon and Arden brands, where he served as Asia president.
During his tenure at One in Beauty, Elizabeth Arden became the number seven prestige brand on China e-commerce platforms, with Villet spearheading the digital transformation of the brand in the region.
Prior to One in Beauty, Villet was chairman and co-founder of Mei.com, a Chinese luxury and fashion flash sales retailer that was acquired by Alibaba in July 2015.
Earlier in his career, he was the first Greater China president at Coach and vice president of the Luxury Products Division for the L’Oreal Group in Japan and in China.
Speaking on his appointment to Tory Burch, Villet said that he is excited to commence his new role.
"I have long admired Tory Burch as a purpose-led company, for its iconic, beautiful designs and for the superior quality of its products.
"The company’s growth in the APAC region has been impressive, and I am excited about working with the team and building on the brand’s extraordinary strengths," he said.
Tory Burch operates two boutiques in Australia at Westfield Bondi Junction and Westfield Sydney, as well as an Australian website.