Kiabi, the Muillez family-owned retailer, has appointed César de Vicente to the role of international director. De Vincente will focus on the development of the apparel brand across the 14 countries it currently operates in and will be in charge of opening stores in new markets.

Starting his career at Decathlon, and then heading to Pimkie, de Vicente was most recently general manager of Kiabi's Spain division, a role he served in since 200. He will be succeeded by José Luis Carceller. Carceller has worked at Kiabi for ten years, having started out as a store manager, before becoming a retail manager for Spain's northern zone in 2016. In Spain, the retailer is well represented with 54 stores and revenues totalling 186 million euros in 2015. 

Kiabi, which recently unveiled a new advertising campaign, opened 21 new points of sale globally in 2016, particularly in Spain (three stores), Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

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In 2018, the French retailer hopes to conquer Brazil, India and China; three major markets for the brand.

Founded in 1978, Kiabi generated 1.8 billion euros in sales in 2016 (+8.2%) and boasts 500 stores worldwide. The firm has strong ambitions: to double sales between now and 2021, of which half are to come from overseas stores. This is a challenge that Caesar de Vicente will have to try meet.

EuropaPress avec Marion Deslandes