By Alexandra Lekas

Capri Holdings Limited has announced Cedric Wilmotte as the interim CEO for luxury fashion label Versace.

Last month’s announcement of the departure of Versace CEO Jonathan Akeroyd, who is set to be joining British luxury house Burberry next April, has forced Capri to take quick measures. Akeroyd has held the position since 2016.

Effective January 21, Wilmotte will serve as interim chief executive officer through December 31, 2022, while Capri Holdings continues to search for a permanent replacement. In his new role, he will work closely with Versace’s chief creative officer, Donatella Versace, as well as with the leadership team “to continue executing the brand’s clearly-defined strategic initiatives,” explained the company in a release.

Wilmotte is, of course, no stranger to luxury retail. He holds a 13-year tenure with Michael Kors as the president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region under his belt. Before his time with Michael Kors, Wilmotte held leadership positions with Marc Jacobs in Paris and Donna Karan in New York, London and Milan.

Chairman and CEO of Capri Holdings, John D. Idol, said in a statement, “I am thrilled to have Cedric in this role as he has an exceptional breadth of luxury retail expertise. I am confident that under his leadership, Versace will be able to continue to execute on its growth strategy and build upon the brand’s incredible momentum.”