Manolo Blahnik names new marketing chief from its own ranks

Luxury shoes and bags brand Manolo Blahnik has named Jodie Blake as its Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately. She’s not a newcomer to the business having been with it since 2019 when she joined at Head of Marketing and Communications. 

Her new responsibilities include “delivering and executing the global communications strategy for the brand under the direction of Manolo Blahnik himself and CEO Kristina Blahnik. Establishing a strong brand voice and visibility in new and evolving markets, she will oversee new market launches and the accompanying communications strategy for the company’s ambitions growth plans in Asia, North America, and Europe. 

“In addition, she will work in partnership with Elodie Bougenault, Chief Commercial Officer, on developing and integrating an elevated customer experience programme across all business touchpoints”.

During her previous role at the firm, she’d been responsible for overseeing its London HQ Communications department, which takes in the Content, Marketing & Events and Press & VIP divisions. 

Blahnik said she worked closely with former CMO Carla Filmer on “the planning and execution of brand strategy and on creative activations in global territories excluding North America and Canada”.

Before joining the firm she was with another famous UK-based brand, Self-Portrait, where she was Head of Marketing and Communications. In her time there, she “built the company’s first in-house marketing team and oversaw the global marketing, PR and VIP divisions as well as building experiential brand moments and developing multichannel media partnerships”.

Earlier roles included Senior Account Director at luxury comms agency The Communications Store, running the UK and global PR strategies for brands including Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, Max Mara, Oscar de la Renta, Pinterest, and The Conran Shop.

Kristina Blahnik highlighted her “understanding of the Manolo Blahnik business, in addition to the experience she has gained in her previous roles within the luxury fashion space”. And she added: “I believe Jodie is the perfect person to step into this role. I feel proud to see Jodie’s transition into a C-Suite position and pleased that as a business we are able to promote internally. It is a testament to the fact that we actively nurture and prioritise investment in our people. I very much look forward to building further on the exciting work already under way with Jodie.”