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SEAFOLLY appoints new CEO and eyes global expansion

Lauretta Roberts
19 January 2018

Australian swimwear brand SEAFOLLY has appointed former DKNY commercial head Paul Kotrba as CEO and has set its sights on further global expansion.

Originally from Vienna, Austria Kotrba is a global retail executive with 15 years' experience spent in New York where he worked for Donna Karan and DKNY, while it was under the ownership of the LVMH luxury conglomerate, leading its commercial development across the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

His appointment will enable 42-year-old SEAFOLLY to develop its growth potential, the brand said. “I am very much looking forward to joining the SEAFOLLY team and for us to expand this powerful Australian brand across the globe. It is impressive what the founders and the management team have accomplished and to experience the loyal following the brand has, especially here in Australia. I believe there is now a real opportunity to build SEAFOLLY into the world’s number one iconic swimwear and beach lifestyle brand,” said Kotrba.

Chairman and Managing Partner of the majority shareholder private equity group, L Catterton Asia, Ravi Thakran, said of the appointment: “[This] is another significant step in our journey in continuing to expand the brand that Peter and Anthony Halas have successfully built over the last four decades. Paul’s leadership and experience will be a huge asset to SEAFOLLY in the next stage of growth and bring us closer to becoming the world’s most recognised brand in this exciting category.”

SEAFOLLY was founded by Peter and Yvonne Halas in 1975. The brand has been led by Anthony Halas since 1998, when he became CEO, and he grew the business across several international markets in Europe, North America and Asia. Halas will remain a non-executive director and shareholder of the business.

“Paul’s extensive commercial acumen and experience building brand equity in established and emerging markets is second-to-none. His international experience combined with SEAFOLLY’s unique history is a success formula for the brand’s future," Halas said.

 

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