Anna Bakst is the new chief executive and president of Kate Spade, the handbag maker.
Bakst, who comes on board next week, will replace Craig Leavitt, who departed from Kate Spade last year in the wake of its acquisition by Tapestry Inc (NYSE:TPR), the US fashion house, which also owns Coach and Stuart Weitzman.
Bakst will report to Victor Luis, Tapestry’s chief executive officer, who has been leading the charge at Kate Spade since Leavitt’s departure.
Bakst was previously at Michael Kors, where she served as Group President of Accessories and Footwear. “Anna's focus on product innovation- notably in the key categories of accessories and footwear - will be a key pillar of the Kate Spade growth strategy,” said Luis.
Shares in Tapestry have inched up close to 25 per cent since the year’s start and now trade at US$51.95