PARIS — Kering has promoted Ewa Abrams to president of its Americas division, effective Aug. 1.
Abrams, general counsel of Kering Americas since 2018, succeeds Laurent Claquin following his recent appointment as group chief brand officer.
She will report to Jean-Marc Duplaix, who was named deputy chief executive officer in charge of operations and finance in a management shake-up last year that also saw Francesca Bellettini named deputy CEO in charge of brand development.
Abrams takes on her new position as Kering implements turnaround efforts amid a global slowdown in spending on luxury goods. The group expects first-half operating profit to plummet by 40 to 45 percent year-over-year as Asian consumers shun its star brand Gucci.
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“Her experience within the group and her extensive knowledge of the luxury industry will be key to support Kering’s strategy and development in the region,” the company said in a statement Monday.
Abrams joined the French luxury group from Tiffany & Co., where she worked for 17 years, holding the title of vice president — associate general counsel, chief compliance & privacy officer. She has also served as adjunct professor of law at Fordham University since 2016.
The executive serves on the board of the Kering Foundation in the Americas and co-chairs the Women in Luxury Americas internal program. She is a graduate of Bucknell University and earned her law degree from Brooklyn Law School.
Claquin had been president of Kering Americas since 2012.
