Fear of God has recruited Bastien Daguzan as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately, WWD has learned.
The Frenchman is probably best known for his recent stint as CEO of Jacquemus, piloting the Paris-based company through a rapid growth phase that saw it enter physical retail after supercharging the online and wholesale channels.
“I’m very excited to have Bastien lead this new chapter in Fear of God’s already written history,” said Jerry Lorenzo, who founded his fashion house in 2013. “I have always had conviction in the vision for where the brand is going, now we have clarity in how we get there.”
Daguzan will be based in Fear of God’s hometown of Los Angeles.
You May Also Like
In a statement shared exclusively with WWD, Fear of God said the brand is “poised for a new era under Daguzan’s leadership, with a specific emphasis on brand awareness and international distribution deployment, e-commerce excellence initiatives, to ensure seamless accessibility for customers worldwide.”
Daguzan will be based in Los Angeles.
A graduate of La Sorbonne and the Institut Français de la Mode, Daguzan started his career running the signature fashion house of Belgian designer Kris Van Assche. He next became CEO of the Lemaire brand from 2013 to 2017, initiating a partnership with Japanese high-street fashion giant Uniqlo that persists through today.
Daguzan then spent five years as general manager of Paco Rabanne fashion, while consulting for Jacquemus on the side.
In May 2022, Daguzan made the jump and switched over to Jacquemus full time just as the brand was hitting a steep growth curve.
Fear of God trumpeted his “experience in brand strategy, general management, and operations within global fashion and luxury brands,” nothing his “expertise spans across the United States, Europe, and Asia.”
What’s more, he “brings a unique blend of creative vision and business acumen. His passion for bridging the gap between creativity and business is evident in his track record of driving organizational transformations and important business growth in fashion and luxury sectors,” the company said.
Daguzan succeeds Alfred Chang, who stepped down as PacSun’s co-chief executive officer last year to join Fear of God.
Chang’s next move could not immediately be learned.
Lorenzo has no background in design, but worked at Gap and Diesel stores as a student. He got his master’s in business administration from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and later started visiting the L.A. garment district to craft special products he felt were missing from the market.
Today, his range spans from luxurious, and minimalistic, collections to activewear and sneakers under the Fear of God Athletics tag, part of a long-term partnership with Adidas.
Lorenzo describes his work as re-envisioning tailoring through the lens of sportswear to continually challenge the notion of modern American fashion.
The designer has also been busy over the years doing a number of collaborations, such as with Vans, Ermenegildo Zegna and Birkenstock.
