Hackett London and Pepe Jeans owner AWWG appoints new CEO

Madrid-based fashion group AWWG, which owns Hackett London, Pepe Jeans and Façonnable, has promoted its Chief Financial & Business Officer, Laura Fernandez Plaza, to the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

The appointment comes as Marcella Wartenbergh steps down after seven years as CEO. Wartenbergh will work closely with Fernandez Plaza over the coming weeks “to ensure a smooth transition”.

Fernandez Plaza joined AWWG in 2006 and has held several key leadership positions, including Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Finance Director, before serving as Chief Financial & Business Officer for the last six years.

Throughout that time, she has worked closely with Wartenbergh and the executive team in executing the group’s strategic priorities and “strengthening the company’s operational foundations”.

Carlos Ortega, Chairman of AWWG, said: “We are very happy to appoint Laura as CEO. Her long standing trajectory within the company and her key role in our transformation journey make her the natural choice to lead AWWG into its next phase of growth.

“On behalf of the board, I would also like to express my deepest thanks to Marcella for her outstanding leadership and dedication. She has built a resilient, disciplined, and high performing platform that is widely admired in the industry, guiding the group through a period of profound transformation with clarity and determination.”

Fernandez Plaza added: “I am honoured to step into the CEO role at such an important moment for AWWG. Over the past years, we have built a strong and differentiated platform across all our portfolio brands, operational excellence, digitalisation, and culture.

“I see a significant opportunity ahead and look forward to working closely with our teams to build on this momentum as we enter our next phase of growth.”