Under Armour announced on Thursday a series of senior leadership changes, as the sportswear company looks to further strengthen its global product, brand and marketplace engines.
Under Armour announces senior leadership changes. – Under Armour
“Our transformation is gaining momentum as we take deliberate actions to sharpen our focus, strengthen our operational rigor, and elevate how we serve athletes,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour president and chief executive officer. “These moves bring clarity, cohesion, and energy to the work ahead. I’m confident in the leadership we’re putting in place and inspired by the path we’re building together.”
As part of the changes, Kara Trent has been appointed chief merchandising officer, where she will lead category management and go-to-market initiatives across Under Armour’s global portfolio. Her role will include overseeing product line architecture, assortment planning and channel segmentation, with a focus on improving SKU productivity, aligning consumer demand with product investment and strengthening marketplace and channel profitability.
Most recently, she served as president of the Americas, Under Armour’s largest region, where she focused on profitable growth, marketplace discipline and omni-channel performance. Prior to that, she was managing director for EMEA.
Adam Peake has been named president of the Americas, taking responsibility for the company’s business across North and South America, including marketplace strategy, distribution and omni-channel growth. Peake brings more than 25 years of leadership experience, including 16 years at Under Armour in senior roles spanning U.S. sales, global marketing, footwear and sport category leadership.
Lastly, Yassine Saidi will transition to a senior advisor role focused on design expression and creative continuity. Since joining Under Armour in 2024, Saidi has helped to evolve the brand’s design language and elevate performance expression across products and platforms. In his new position, he will continue to support the long-term development of the brand’s design voice.
Vivaia is moving quickly. Following the recent opening of its second Paris boutique in late 2025, the footwear brand, known for its responsible approach, has announced a key new milestone in its development: the appointment of Alan Buanne as creative director.
Alan Buanne – DR
A strategic move as Vivaia looks ahead to 2026 with a clear ambition: to strengthen its global presence and shape its creative identity at scale.
In just a few years, the brand has made its mark on the footwear landscape, and its strategy appears to be paying off. In 2025, the label had more than 75 boutiques worldwide and recorded striking growth across its physical retail network, with year-on-year retail performance up 100%. In New York, the SoHo boutique even posted record footfall.
To support this momentum, Buanne brings a strong track record. Trained at Polimoda in Florence, he worked for renowned names such as Nicholas Kirkwood and Bottega Veneta before co-founding Neous, a footwear brand known for its refined, considered take on luxury.
Buanne also intends to evolve the brand’s visual language while staying true to its DNA.
“My aim is to build on what already clearly resonates and to guide Vivaia into its next phase with the same determination,” he stated, in a press release.
That vision involves more inclusive silhouettes, greater attention to skin tones, and clearer communication around innovative materials and environmental commitments, notably the recycling of ocean plastic.
DR
At the same time, Vivaia is preparing a major expansion of its boutique network. By 2026, the brand aims to have 130 points of sale worldwide. In the United States, ten new openings are planned, including in New York, California and Florida. These stores will adopt a new concept designed for wellbeing: soft lines, warm materials and welcoming spaces, reflecting the brand universe it aims to build. This rollout will complement established partnerships with retailers such as Nordstrom and Von Maur, with further collaborations to come, including Macy’s.
The first collection shaped by Buanne’s vision will debut in Autumn/Winter 2026.
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Rails has unveiled its first-ever handbag collection. Based in Los Angeles, the brand continues to evolve, expanding into leather goods in keeping with its focus on premium essentials that combine comfort, softness and refined cuts.
The debut collection comprises four styles: the oversized Torino bucket bag, the supple Siena hobo, the Como mini barrel top-handle bag and the Lucca mini shoulder bag, each designed as a durable piece to slot into the everyday wardrobe.
DR
Crafted in suede, premium leather or pony-effect leather, the bags emphasise the quality of materials and finishes, with signature buckles, braiding and artisanal details that reinterpret classic lines. Priced between 268 and 368 euros, the collection sits within the accessible premium segment, with designs intended to be worn season after season.
The brand does not use any licences: all handbags are designed in-house by a dedicated team that oversees the entire design and production process end to end. Rails works with specialised factories in Italy, Spain, Portugal and India, with all leather bags sold in Europe made in Italy. This strategy aims to control the entire value chain, from design through to sales. In the same spirit of diversification, Rails also plans to launch its first footwear styles this spring, manufactured in Spain and Portugal.
Founded in 2008 by Jeff Abrams, CEO and creative director, Rails has grown from a project launched with an initial $5,000 investment and a single product into an international womenswear and menswear brand. Now distributed in 30 countries, the brand collaborates with around 1,200 retailers and operates a network of 21 bricks-and-mortar boutiques, including six in Europe: two in London, one in Paris, one in Berlin, one in Amsterdam and one in Antwerp. Further openings are planned across Europe. Rails has flagship stores in New York, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Paris, London and Amsterdam.
The company reported revenues of over 125 million euros. Direct-to-consumer sales, including retail and e-commerce, represent around 50% of the overall business, with a balanced split between online and in-store, while wholesale remains a key pillar of the business model.
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Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, China’s biggest jewellery seller with thousands of stores across mainland China and Hong Kong, is beginning to look further afield for fresh growth, starting in Southeast Asia with a new store in Thailand.
Reuters
The company opened a flagship store in the Thai capital Bangkok’s luxury shopping and lifestyle mall Siam Paragon on Friday. The move is part of a wave of Chinese and Hong Kong consumer brands shifting abroad to offset slowing domestic demand, rising market saturation and pricing pressure in the world’s second-largest economy.
Sonia Cheng, its vice chairman, said the company’s international expansion “is seeing strong momentum in Southeast Asia.”
Chow Tai Fook also plans to open its first store in Australia, and another in Canada by the end of June. It also aims to enter the Middle East market within the next two years.
“We remain committed to measured, value-adding growth, with Dubai and Doha next on the horizon — a testament to our brand’s enduring global appeal,” Cheng said.
Chinese brands are actively expanding globally, moving beyond low-cost manufacturing, to build a stronger international presence in the consumer and lifestyle sectors with brands such as Pop Mart, Miniso, Xiaomi and Anta.
Founded 97 years ago, Chow Tai Fook has been challenged by newcomers such as Laopu Gold, which has gained popularity with its luxury retail experience and traditional Chinese craftsmanship jewellery in recent years.
The jeweller also named Chinese actor Yang Yang as its global brand ambassador on Friday.