Growing Gymshark hires chief people officer from Farfetch

Gymshark is bolstering its leadership team, appointing Sian Keane as chief people officer. She joins the expanding sportswear retailer from Farfetch.

As chief people officer for the high-end digital fashion and beauty retailer for six years she helped oversee its growth from 100 people to over 7,000 globally, including the integration of 10 acquisitions.

In her new role, she will be responsible for growth in personnel as Gymshark boosts its international omnichannel strategy with “a key focus on attracting, developing and retaining world-class talent through the next critical stage of growth”.

Gymshark founder and CEO Ben Francis added: “It’s no secret that I want Gymshark to become a brand that outlives us all. To achieve this, we need the very best people driving us forward and sharing this ambition – they are comfortably our most important asset.

“It was evident from the first minute of meeting Sian that she shared this belief. When you couple that with her track record, approach and values, she is the perfect person to lead this charge and play a huge role in taking Gymshark to the next level. I can’t wait to see what she’s going to bring!”

Keane added: “As Gymshark continues its journey from being solely an ecom business to being fully omnichannel, it’s absolutely critical we attract, develop and retain world-class talent.”

Keane is the latest in a series of senior appointments at Gymshark, following Mat Dunn joining from ASOS as CFO, the appointed of Carly Nataliziaas chief digital officer from The Very Group and Hannah Mercer joining as general manager, wholesale and retail from Adidas.

As part of the global omnichannel ambitions, Gymshark announced it will open a store  this year at the UAE’s Dubai Mall, its first outside the UK.