Kering appoints Nikolas Talonpoika as CEO of Christopher Kane

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Oct 11, 2016

Kering announced on Tuesday the appointment of Nikolas Talonpoika as Chief Executive Officer of Christopher Kane, effective October 12, 2016. Talonpoika succeeds Sarah Crook, who is parting ways with Kering Group after serving as CEO of Christopher Kane for two years.

 
As CEO, Talonpoika will be tasked with accelerating the brand’s international expansion working alongside Christopher and Tammy Kane. He will also report to Kering Group Managing Director Jean-François Palus.
 
The 44-year-old has been with Kering Group for eight years. He was appointed Media Director of Gucci Group in 2008 and was later named Strategic Marketing and Media Director of Kering in 2012. Talonpoika attended Dulwich College and University College London and he began his career in London working at advertising groups WPP and Publicis as international client director on accounts such as Richemont, L’Oréal and Nespresso.

Crook, who is stepping down as CEO of Christopher Kane, was instrumental in the brand’s international expansion. While at Christopher Kane, Crook played a key role in the opening of the brand’s first flagship store in London, the addition of new product categories and maintaining an e-commerce presence.