Luxury fashion group Capri Holdings has lined up Catherine So as chief legal and sustainability officer, replacing Krista McDonough who left the company in June.
So joins from Tiffany & Co, where she was general counsel. At Capri she will oversee legal, compliance, IP, governance and brand protection, and report directly to chairman and CEO John Idol. She is due to take up her new role on 19 October.
London and New York-based Capri owns luxury fashion brands Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo.
Idol said: “[So] is a highly respected legal leader with extensive experience with helping develop global luxury brands and executive teams through periods of transformation and growth. Her expertise, leadership and strategic perspective will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our business and position our brands for long-term success.”
So moves on from Tiffany & Co after 11 years, more than five of them as GC. Prior to that she spent five years at Bank of America as assistant GC, a year at ING as senior counsel for regulation and compliance and six years at Merrill Lynch as an employment lawyer.
She had an earlier spell as an assistant US attorney in the Eastern District of New York, working in its criminal division. She also worked in private practice at Debevoise & Plimpton and Bondurant Mixson & Elmore.
She said: “Capri Holdings is home to iconic luxury brands, and I am thrilled to join the organisation at this important time. I look forward to partnering with John and the teams across Capri to support the company’s strategic objectives and continued growth.”
McDonough, meanwhile, announced her attention to resign back in April, leaving to join beauty business Wella in June.
She left Capri after just under a decade, having previously been GC at Capri brand Michael Kors. McDonough started her career in private practice at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.
At the time of her appointment in June, Wella said: “Krista is a highly accomplished legal executive and strategic business partner with more than 20 years of experience advising brand- and product-led consumer companies through periods of evolution. With a proven track record in corporate governance, regulatory compliance and risk management, she will serve as a key member of our global leadership team based in New York City.”
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
