Instagram's Eva Chen and retail guru Radice appointed to board of Yoox Net-a-Porter

Yoox Net-a-Porter Group has appointed Instagram's head of fashion partnerships Eva Chen to its board of directors, along with retail guru Vittorio Radice.

Chen and Radice mark the first major appointments to the group since the high profile departure of Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet. Massenet elected to leave following the company's acquisition by Yoox and the subsequent appointment of Yoox founder Federico Marchetti as the group's CEO.

A former editor of Lucky magazine, which pioneered content and commerce, Chen, who joined Instagram in July, is one of the most high profile influencers in fashion. She will act as a much-needed fashion figurehead for the group, which was a void left after Massenet's departure.

Marchetti said she would serve as the voice of the customer, in particular the US customer, on the company's board: "She is one of the industry's most connected and innovative voices and brings a fresh, youthful perspective together with exceptional expertise at the convergence of social commerce and fashion. She also represents one of our most important markets - the US - and will bring that sensibility to the heart of the business."

Radice, meanwhile, will also sit on the board as an independent director. The UK-based Italian retail guru made his name in the UK at stores such as Marks & Spencer and Habitat and was credited with making Selfridges cool again. He joined Italian department store group La Rinascente in 2005.

Vittorio Radice

The appointments follow a shake-up of the former Net-a-Porter board. Alison Loehnis was promoted to president of the group, following Massenet's departure, which the heads of Mr Porter and The Outnet, Ian Tansley and Stephanie Phair respectively, exited the business last month.