Busy Brand Machine Group creates new menswear buying chief role

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 26, 2023

Brand owner and licensing house Brand Machine Group (BMG) has been very busy of late and just a month after announcing a new technology chief and welcoming a new CFO, it has unveiled another key role.

This time it’s Head of Buying in menswear, which is part of a strategic plan to grow the menswear division at the group. Robert Cork has been named to the post.

As mentioned, the change is part of the group's continued global and retail expansion, and its plans to grow the menswear operation further, “specifically broadening and adding depth of offer into its luxury and tailoring product proposition, but also developing the whole portfolio of Duchamp, Penfield, US Polo Assn, Jack Wills, Franklin & Marshall and newly owned British tailoring brand Peckham Rye”.

Cork has plenty of key menswear experience and joins from Hackett London. Prior to this he was Global Sourcing & Development Director at the Italy-based brand North Sails. He’s worked in premium and luxury men’s and kids’ brand product development for over 25 years.

He said of his new post: “Having learnt of a strategy to grow menswear, and after meeting the CEO, I knew that this was a forward thinking and innovative place to work. It’s a talented team that I wanted to be a part of and I feel that my experience and drive is a great fit for the groups ambitious growth strategy in the sector.”

And CEO Boo Jalil added: “We have the privilege of working with some of the finest menswear brands as part of our portfolio, it is something we are very proud of, but now more than ever we need to invest in expertise in product development and sourcing and I know Robert understands and will deliver ‘best in class’ in this growing division of the group.”