Chicago — Claire’s Stores, Inc. has appointed Beatrice Lafon, a proven retail executive with almost 30 years of Pan-European experience, as president of the European division.
Chicago — Claire’s Stores, Inc., a leading specialty retailers of fashionable accessories and jewelry at affordable prices, has appointed Beatrice Lafon, a proven retail executive with almost 30 years of Pan-European experience, as president of the European division, reporting to Gene Kahn, CEO, effective immediately.
In her position, Lafon will lead the continued growth and expansion of the European business. She will have direct responsibility for buying, merchandising (planning) and allocation, supply chain, stores and the overall operations for approximately 1,100 stores across 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Continental Europe and three Eastern European countries.
Lafon has served in executive positions at TJ Hughes in the UK, Etam Group in the Netherlands, and Animal Ltd. in the UK; a variety of retail roles at Woolworths Group; as well as various management positions at Eyestorm, BSkyB, Ouiset, River Island, Dorothy Perkins and Marks & Spencer, where she began her retail career.
Claire’s Stores, Inc. operates through its two store concepts: Claire’s® globally and Icing® in North America. As of July 30, 2011, Claire’s Stores, Inc. operated 3,020 stores in North America and Europe. The company also franchised or licensed 387 stores in Japan, the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Greece, Guatemala, Malta, Ukraine and South Africa.
For more information, visit www.clairestores.com.