Orla Kiely appoints former Richemont and Liberty director as new CCO

Orla Kiely has appointed luxury retail specialist Jalil Rahman as Chief Commercial Officer to drive strategic "next phase" growth globally.

Rahman joins the Irish designer brand, best known for its handbags, backpacks, accessories and retro-inspired prints, from Richemont Group, where he was Director of Business Development from December 2022 to January 2025, spearheading the launch of a new start-up luxury brand.

Prior to Richemont, Rahman was Director of Brand Partnerships and Licensing at Liberty. In his new role at Orla Kiely, he will focus on expanding the brand’s customer base "while maintaining the balance of art and commerce" which is central to the brand.

Dermott Rowan, Managing Director and co-owner of Orla Kiely, said: "Bringing Jalil – with his years of experience working with heritage design and luxury brands - onto the team marks a new chapter for the business, as we continue to invest in our people and grow the business. We look forward to increasing our global reach as the brand continues to go from strength to strength."

Rahman added: "It is a pleasure to be joining such an innovative, design-led team. Orla Kiely has a strong heritage which I’m excited to protect and leverage, while expanding our audience and meeting the demands of a changing market. We’re taking the brand into its next phase - one which will be stronger than ever."

Rahman’s appointment follows a "strong" year of sales for Orla Kiely, boosted by Q4 sales figures that grew 13% compared to the same period in 2023.