Thom Browne, the American luxury label known for its sharp tailoring and owned by the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, is undergoing a leadership shift. The brand has appointed Sam Lobban as its new chief executive officer (CEO), recruiting him from Nordstrom, where he currently serves as executive vice president and general manager of the Apparel & Designer division. The British executive is set to join Thom Browne in early September, taking over from Rodrigo Bazan, who has held the role since 2016 and is stepping down “to pursue new opportunities.”

“Sam Lobban is an innovator in merchandising and has notably secured collaborations at Nordstrom with major brands, including Thom Browne,” the Italian luxury group stated. Lobban began his career in 2010 at Selfridges in London, before joining the founding team of online fashion retailer Mr Porter a year and a half later. He remained there until 2018, then moved to Nordstrom in 2019, where he rapidly advanced through leadership roles.

The Italian company thanks Rodrigo Bazan, recalling that under his leadership, “the company reached sales of 315 million euros in 2023, with 116 directly operated stores worldwide, becoming a symbol of contemporary luxury made-to-measure.”

“Under Rodrigo’s leadership, Thom Browne’s sales have almost tripled since our acquisition. We thank him for laying the foundation for our future growth,” comments Gildo Zegna, CEO of the Zegna Group, which acquired the label in 2018. “Rodrigo’s entrepreneurial vision, as well as his essential role in defending Thom Browne’s intellectual property rights against Adidas, have helped protect and strengthen the brand’s authentic and unique identity,” he continues.

While Thom Browne has enjoyed exponential growth in recent years, the brand had nevertheless begun to slow down, and this change of guard was to be expected. In 2023, the label saw its sales fall by 17.2% (-20.8% in organic terms), to 314.8 million euros, while its adjusted operating profit reached 27.3 million euros, with a margin of 8.7%, compared with 15.5% a year earlier.