Fossil Group UK trading director Helen Wood will step up into the managing director role, following Giles Bushby’s pending departure.
WatchPro announced last month that Bushby will be leaving the company after 14 years. A brief statement issued by the Fossil Group at the time said that Bushby has decided that he would like to pursue his interests outside Fossil Group.
Following this announcement, the fashion watch powerhouse has revealed Bushby’s successor as Wood, who will step into the MD role on December 1, 2013. Wood left Estee Lauder Companies after 17 years to join Fossil Group two years ago. She has now been promoted and is tasked with continuing the leadership of Fossil Group UK.
Speaking about her promotion, Wood said: “Joining Fossil Group UK two years ago in the role of trading director was an exciting, if not slightly nerve-wracking, time for me. The decision gave an amazing opportunity to gain valuable insight into a very different industry from the cosmetics business, within which I had built my career. In these past few years, I have been a part of a huge evolution within Fossil Group – a time of new thinking, new focus, new business models, new structures and new brands, all of which have served to strengthen and grow a significant and highly-respected global company.
"The future is full of insurmountable opportunities. We have the structures, tools and strategies in place to maintain our double digit growth, to increase our market share and to support our brand integrities, ensuring we remain both desirable and aspirational as our journey continues.”
In her role as MD, Wood will be supported by operations director Richard Collins; trading director Jacqui Foers, and HR director Wayne Morgan.
A statement from the Fossil Group UK said: "At a time of buoyancy in the UK watch market, please join me in congratulating Helen and her team as they pursue the growth and drive Fossil Group UK to continued strength".
