Topshop looks to luxury sector again for new merchandising head

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
May 1, 2018

Johanna Lightfoot has joined UK fashion chain Topshop as its new head of merchandising, moving from Ralph Lauren, which she only joined last year.

She has over 13 years experience in merchandising, buying and planning across womenswear, menswear, and kidswear, particularly in the luxury sector.

She spent seven years at Burberry and was director of planning for womenswear for three years at the brand before she moved on to Ralph lauren. She has also worked at US brands Nautica and DKNY.

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And that very impressive CV of luxury names reflects a trend for Topshop with the fast fashion company having looked to the high-end market for a number of key hires in the last year. 

The chain’s new CEO, Paul Price, came from Burberry last year and is likely to have encountered Lightfoot at the British luxury giant.

Meanwhile, last autumn, Tiopshop named Anthony Cuthbertson as its global design director. He had most recently design director of Just Cavalli and had also worked at Sass & Bide, Mulberry and Victoria Beckham.

Topshop (and its menswear arm Topman) has seen major change in its management and senior teams in recent periods and seems to be looking to the luxury sector to add a new edge to the brands. 

It has struggled to re-energise its sales of late and has lost out to international brands and pureplay online companies offering lower prices and more disruptive business models.