Victoria Beckham CEO Marie Leblanc to quit fashion house

Victoria Beckham announced on Monday the departure of its CEO Marie Leblanc to return to France and be with her family, in a surprise decision, coming one week after the brand’s latest show.

 
No successor has been named. In the interim, Ralph Toledano, the Chairman of VBL, which controls the Beckham fashion house, will act as CEO.
 
Leblanc joined VBL in 2018, as Product Director before becoming its CEO in 2019, overseeing a full brand repositioning and a move to showing during Paris Fashion Week.

“Marie has been the most incredible partner and CEO these past five years and I am so grateful to have had such a strong, intelligent and inspiring woman by my side. We have been through an incredible journey together; fighting fires side by side, exchanging passionately about design and product, and never losing sight of our common goal – to build a beautiful brand and profitable business. I’m so excited about this next phase that we are in, which she has been such a crucial part of, and wish Marie the best of luck with her own next chapter,” said Victoria Beckham, Founder and Creative Director, in a release.
 
Added Toledano: “Marie will be very missed. She executed and achieved an exceptional turnaround for the brand and has prepared it for an accelerated growth. I want to take this time to thank and congratulate her wholeheartedly. Marie is sure
to have a most brilliant career ahead of her.”
 
During her tenure in London, Victoria Beckham went from a loss-making house to a profitable one, more than doubling annual turnover. Total revenues grew to £89.1 million in 2023 for the third consecutive year.
 
“I am very grateful to Victoria, the Board and our Chairman, Ralph Toledano, for the opportunity to lead the company as CEO during the last five years. Together, with the support of NEO and thanks to the commitment and hard work of the incredible VB team, we have crafted a full new Brand value proposition and turned around the business. This was a milestone, and I feel extremely proud of the work we have done; putting creative at the core, and bringing together Victoria’s aesthetic and Brand DNA, with high standards quality products and driving customer engagement. Thank you again to Victoria and our amazing team, I look forward to seeing what you continue to achieve, and I am very confident the company is on track to reach new heights,” said Leblanc.
 
Leblanc also oversaw the move from London Fashion Week to Paris, where Beckham’s shows have been widely acclaimed.
 
Added David Belhassen, Founder & Managing Partner NEO Investments, the French luxury firm that acquired 30% of Victoria Beckman a half decade in a valuation of some €100 million: “From day one when Marie started at Victoria Beckham as Product Director, we felt that she had the CEO potential in her. We took the risk, and she has nailed it! The turnaround of the brand is excellent, the acceleration has started and the brand has become very desirable. Marie has led this journey in brilliant partnership with Victoria and NEO, and I want to take this time to thank and congratulate her. We can now take off and I wholeheartedly wish Marie all the best in her very promising career.”