McArthurGlen creates chief brand officer role

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Apr 16, 2018

McArthurGlen Group, the owner of designer outlets, has announced that Shaeren McKenzie, currently group marketing director, will be promoted to chief brand officer, a newly created role.

The news comes at a time of rapid growth for the group, which is currently building its first outlet destination in Spain, and expanding two existing centres in the UK - Cheshire Oaks near Manchester, and Ashford near London.

The company will also break ground on its seventh British centre, a new £160 million development in Cannock in the West Midlands, soon.

In light of the new developments, and the ever changing retail landscape, it created the new chief brand officer role to ensure the McArthurGlen brand evolves with the times.

Julia Calabrese, chief executive officer of the McArthurGlen Group, explains: “While the appeal of affordable luxury has never been stronger, our marketplace continues to evolve rapidly. One of the ways our board is responding is with the creation of this new role.”

Shaeren McKenzie will focus on developing the group’s consumer proposition, working in close cooperation with its luxury and fashion brand partners, and developing and amplifying the global brand narrative to all consumer and business-to-business audiences.

“Shaeren has a deep appreciation of our customers,” says Calabrese. “She knows how to communicate with them. She understands how we should evolve our customer proposition, in all our markets and across all platforms. Shaeren will be key to us driving continued growth and success for our business and our brand partners.”

McKenzie has been at McArthurGlen since 2009. Prior to that, she held a number of leadership positions in the fashion, retail and advertising sectors, including managing director at British lingerie brand Charnos and marketing director at BHS, where she worked directly for Sir Philip Green.