Alexander Wang Takes On CEO Role

Alexander Wang has announced that in addition to his role as creative director at his eponymous label, he will also take on the roles of chairman and CEO - roles previously held by his mother, Ying, and sister-in-law, Aimie, respectively - effective immediately.

His brand, which he founded in 2005, also sees other changes at the top, reports WWD. He has brought on Mary Wang (who previously worked as president of DKNY) as executive vice president and his aunt Caroline Wang (who comes from a 30-year career at IBM) as executive vice chairman. According to the designer, the plan now coming to fruition has been in the works for some time.
My family and I have been preparing for this shift all along and after 11 years said Alexander Wang

"My family and I have been preparing for this shift all along and after 11 years, all family members feel the time is right," he told WWD. "The family are still board members and give their full support. In addition, executives will gradually be added to the company's senior management team to support continued growth." - Alexander Wang

Wang won't be the first high-profile designer to take on the dual responsibility of CEO and creative director - he joins, among others, Christopher Bailey of Burberry. But, while there have been reports that leading both the business and creative sides of a fashion house can lead to compromise, Wang - who departed his creative director role at Balenciaga last year to focus solely on his own label - is feeling confident that he can balance both well.

"The business side has always come naturally to me," he said. "With my full-time return to New York, I want to focus on my brand's strategic growth. Now is the right time to fully synchronise the creative and business aspects of the company and to continue strengthening the dialogue we have with our customers. It has always been my goal to create brand value, and to be a brand with integrity and purpose."