As part of a “planned succession process”, Christos Angelides has been appointed CEO of Reiss. So, who is Angelides? And what challenges will he face? 

Angelides is the man behind Next’s successful fashion transformation and, more recently, served as Abercrombie & Fitch’s brand president – a position he left in 2015.

Holding only a non-executive position (from which he will likely have to step down from) at French Connection since 2015, Angelides has taken his time to plan his next move.

A much sought-after executive, Angelides’ decision to further his career with Reiss shows how much he admires the brand, and that he thinks he is able to have real impact there.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for M&S which had previously identified Angelides as its preferred candidate and is reported to have recently made an offer to him.

Like all new CEOs, Angelides will face some major challenges. We are living in what is perhaps the most turbulent political landscape since the cold war. For UK companies, including Reiss, Brexit worries will be a high priority. And, since the brand is one of the few British labels to crack the American market, Trump’s controversial presidency will also be a concern.  

Additionally, changing consumer expectations – including immediacy, vast choice, and a truly customer-centric experience – are also likely to be high on Angelides’ agenda (as they are for all retailers).

And all of this on top of whatever challenges Reiss is currently facing as a brand (not least the effective loss of its founder and long-term CEO).

Though Angelides is hotly-tipped and well-respected, his career hasn’t been without troubles. He was, after all, fired from Abercrombie & Fitch due to low sales. That said, his accomplishments are many, and it will be interesting to what direction he takes the brand.

What do you think of Reiss’s decision to award Angelides the position of CEO?

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