Manolo Blahnik strengthens leadership as it targets further growth in the Americas

Manolo Blahnik has appointed Kimberly Mimnaugh as Managing Director of the Americas, strengthening its leadership team as the luxury footwear brand continues to expand its presence across North America.

Effective immediately, Mimnaugh will lead the commercial strategy for Manolo Blahnik Americas across retail, wholesale and ecommerce, while overseeing the company's regional operations. Based in New York, she will report to Chief Commercial Officer Elodie Bougenault.

Mimnaugh joins from Chloé, where she most recently served as Vice President of North America Retail, overseeing merchandising and buying, retail operations, learning and development, store planning and visual merchandising. During her tenure, she led the brand's transition from wholesale to retail concessions for handbags at a leading US department store and developed a regional client engagement programme that was later adopted globally.

Prior to Chloé, Mimnaugh was Senior Vice President of North America Retail at Theory and Helmut Lang, where she oversaw retail operations, store design, visual merchandising and financial retail planning. She also previously served as Managing Director of North America at Brunello Cucinelli, driving market expansion, controlled distribution and the transformation of the brand's retail footprint.

North America remains a key growth market for Manolo Blahnik, which currently operates four stores across the region, most recently opening a boutique at South Coast Plaza in California.

Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik, said: “I am delighted to welcome Kimberly to Manolo Blahnik as Managing Director of the Americas. Kimberly brings an exceptional combination of luxury retail expertise and commercial leadership.”

“Her proven ability to accelerate direct-to-consumer growth while maintaining a strong wholesale business makes her ideally placed to lead this next phase of our growth in the Americas.”

Mimnaugh added: “I am thrilled to be joining Manolo Blahnik at such a pivotal moment for the brand in the Americas. Manolo Blahnik holds a rare and enduring position within luxury, built on unparalleled craftsmanship, and I am excited to help shape its next chapter of growth across the region.”

Founded in 1970, Manolo Blahnik continues to expand its international retail footprint. Earlier this year, the luxury footwear brand opened its first boutique in Beijing, marking its second store in Mainland China, as it continues to invest in key international growth markets.