Jil Sander appoints Axel Keller as new CEO

By

Dominique Muret

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Oct 8, 2018

Axel Keller is going from strength to strength at Jil Sander. He has taken over the CEO role from Alessandra Bettari, who in turn was appointed vice-president of the Onward Luxury Group (OLG), the European subsidiary of the eponymous Japanese group which, besides the German label, also controls Moreau and Charlotte Olympia.

Keller joined Jil Sander last February as worldwide commercial director, a post he had previously held for 15 years at Balenciaga and for 12 years at Maison Martin Margiela. His appointment underlines the group's intention of focusing on Jil Sander's relaunch, after the German label’s design was entrusted to Lucie and Luke Meier a year ago. Their collections have been well received by buyers, and Jil Sander has started featuring again at major department stores.

Jil Sander has also developed a new store concept, unveiled at the recent inauguration of the label’s flagship store in Tokyo’s Omotensando district. Jil Sander’s other growth driver will be the expansion of the accessories category, as shown at the label's recent show.

The two recent senior executive appointments are part of the reorganisation effort which OLG has undertaken after the retirement of its long-standing President Franco Penè. The latter is now the group’s honorary president, and stepped down last spring, replaced by Takehiro Shiraishi.
 
Bettari, who was in charge of Jil Sander since 2016, will act as Vice-President of OLG alongside Antonello Orunesu, as the label wrote in a press release. She will now report to Takehiro Shiraishi.