Mario Grauso, the current president of Loblaw’s Joe Fresh division, is set to lead Holt Renfrew as its president.
Grauso leaves Joe Fresh following a three-year tenure, including two years as president. Under his leadership, Joe Fresh repositioned its international growth strategy, launched e-commerce, added footwear and beauty lines, revamped its branding and streamlined its apparel assortment.
“After a two-year transformation, improving almost every aspect of the business, Mario and the team have Joe Fresh in the right place,” says Galen G. Weston, executive chairman and president of Loblaw Companies Limited. “The business has an exciting future based on the new standards we’ve set for superb style, strong branding, better product, and industry-leading financial performance.”
A 20-year veteran of the fashion industry, Grauso has been president of Vera Wang and an executive of Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein and other global fashion brands. He will remain with the company until September, when he will replace Holt Renfrew’s outgoing president, Mark Derbyshire.
