Victoria Beckham CEO Riva steps down, chairman Toledano to lead brand

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jul 12, 2019

In a shock move on Friday, Victoria Beckham Ltd announced that Paolo Riva is to step down from his role as CEO “for personal reasons, with immediate effect.”

That means industry veteran and VB Chairman Ralph Toledano “will lead the business moving forward.” He joined the popstar-turned-fashion-mogul’s company as part of a new structure in partnership with NEO Investment in March last year.

Toledano praised Riva and said that “it has been a real pleasure working with Paolo, and on behalf of the board, I would like to thank him for his contribution. I look forward to continuing to drive and implement the strategy for the brand with Victoria and the team.” 

Riva himself added that he’s “proud of what I have accomplished with the team and wish the company great success for the future.”

The change at the top also comes with news that Product Director Marie Leblanc de Reynies has also been promoted to the newly created role of Managing Director of Brand and Product and Pablo Sande has been named Chief Financial and Legal Officer.

The new MD joined the company a year ago having previously headed women’s fashion and brand positioning for the Printemps department store in Paris. She’d also worked in design at Isabel Marant and collection development at Celine. 
 
Sande meanwhile is relocating from Ferragamo New York where he was CFO of the Americas. He also worked for Burberry for nine years.