Rémy Baume and Cecilia Bönström leave the company

Change of era at Zadig & Voltaire. Rémy Baume and Cecilia Bönström, who headed respectively the general and artistic management of the French fashion brand are leaving. The founding family is taking over the reins with the appointment of Arnaud Gillier as president and the return of Thierry Gillier as head of the creative teams, the company announced in a press release.

Rémy Baume joined Zadig & Voltaire in 2020 from children’s fashion group Kidiliz, taking a stake in the company. He will step down at the end of February to ensure “a smooth transition”. According to the owners, “under his leadership, the company will have passed a significant growth milestone and put in place solid and committed teams”.
 
Cecilia Bönström, creative director of the premium brand since 2006, is leaving behind a longer chapter. “She will leave her indelible mark on the history of the brand. I am very grateful to Cecilia for having paved the way for the success of the house, which will enable the brand to continue to grow,” says Thierry Gillier of his former partner, from whom he has been separated for three years. A new creative organisation is due to be announced in the coming months.

 
Founded in 1997, the label, known for its rock style, has over 350 stores worldwide. In 2023, its sales amounted to 450 million euros (40% of which came from accessories), a stable level compared to 2022. Three years ago, when it was generating annual sales of €350 million, the company had set itself the target of achieving sales of €550 million by 2025. Today, that target seems too ambitious.

Thierry Gillier remains the majority shareholder in the company. Four years ago, a change of minority shareholder took place, with the departure of the American investor TA Associates and the arrival of the Luxembourg fund Peninsula, which took a 30% stake.