Courrèges names Christina Ahlers new CEO

By

Marion Deslandes

Translated by
Erin Floyd

Published
Jan 15, 2018

Courrèges, which was taken over by Jacques Bungert and Frédéric Torloting in 2011, is strengthening its management team with the arrival of Christine Ahlers as CEO. The executive, who served in international development at Acne Studios for 12 years, will take up her new role on February 12.

The appointment comes at a time when the the label, founded in 1961 by André and Coqueline Courrèges, may stand to be bought by either Kering or Artémis, the Pinault family holding. Artémis in fact already has a minority stake in the company, whose top creative roles have been left unmanned since the departure of the design duo Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant last summer.

Ahlers will announce the new creative leadership "in the coming weeks", according to a statement by Jacques Bungert and Frédéric Torloting in a press release. "After the reorganisation phase guided by François Le Ménahèze [president of the label since April 2017 - Ed.], Christina's arrival marks today the opening of a new chapter for the house." A lawyer by background, the German manager began her career at Martin Margiela, in the sales department, before taking responsibility of wholesale (outside of Japan and Italy). In 2006, she joined Acne Studios to create the Swedish brand's French office, which she has managed since, supervising sales and communication for Southern Europe; Eastern Europe; the Middle East and Asia.

"I'm very pleased to join the house of Courrèges, whose values of innovation and creativity I share," commented Ahlers. "I've had the opportunity to participate in the worldwide success of two major brands. Courrèges has significant ambition, and I will put all my enthusiasm for fashion and my experience at its service."

Best known for its futuristic creations and geometric, pared-down silhouettes, Courrèges returned to the fore in 2015 with a reappearance on the Parisian runways. The fashion house, which has some 60 ready-to-wear sales points, closed its Pau factory in 2017, laying off 18 of 23 employees at the site.