Angela Ahrendts

Dame Angela Jean Ahrendts, DBE (born 7 June 1960)[2] is an American[3]-British businesswoman who was previously the senior vice president of retail at Apple Inc. She was the CEO of Burberry from 2006 to 2014.[4] Ahrendts left Burberry to join Apple in 2014.[5] Ahrendts was ranked 25th in Forbes' 2015 list of the most powerful women in the world,[6] 9th most powerful woman in the U.K. in the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour 100 Power List,[7] and 29th in Fortune's 2014 list of the world's most powerful women in business.[8] She was also a member of the UK's Prime Minister's business advisory council until it was disbanded in 2016.[9][10]

Dame

Angela Ahrendts

DBE
Angela Ahrendts at Burberry's launch of their Chicago flagship
Born
Angela Jean Ahrendts

(1960-06-07) June 7, 1960
New Palestine, Indiana, US
Other namesAngela Ahrendts-Couch
Citizenship
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
EducationBall State University
Occupation(s)Senior Vice President, Retail, Apple Inc. (2014–2019)
CEO of Burberry (2006–2014)
SpouseGregg Couch
Children3[1]

Early life

Ahrendts was born and raised in New Palestine, Indiana, the third of six children.[1] Her father, Richard Ahrendts, was a businessman, and her mother, Jean, was a homemaker.[11]

She attended New Palestine High School, where she was a varsity cheerleader.[11] In 1981, she earned an undergraduate degree in Merchandising and Marketing from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.[12]

Career

Ahrendts moved to New York City to work in the fashion industry.[1] After a series of positions including merchandising at bra maker Warnaco,[1] Ahrendts joined Donna Karan International in 1989, working to develop the luxury brand internationally through both wholesale and licensing.[13] In 1996 she was hired at Henri Bendel by Leslie Wexner to expand Bendel stores to 50 new markets, but the project was cancelled by the board of directors two years later.[1]

In 1998, she joined Fifth & Pacific Companies as vice president of corporate merchandising and design. In 2001, she was promoted to senior vice president of corporate merchandising and group president, responsible for the merchandising of the group's 20 plus brands including Laundry by Shelli Segal, Lucky Brand Dungarees and the men's retail business of Liz Claiborne Inc. In 2002, she was promoted again to serve as executive vice president, with full responsibility for the complete line of Liz Claiborne products, services and development across both women's and men's lines.[13]

Burberry

Ahrendts joined Burberry in January 2006, and took up the position of CEO on July 1, 2006, replacing Rose Marie Bravo. Ahrendts mitigated the brand's decline in prestige by immediately limiting the number of clothing and accessories carrying the Burberry check pattern to 10%, minimizing the damage ubiquitous counterfeits had caused to sales. She also oversaw the buying back of the brand's fragrance and beauty product licenses and the buying out of the Spanish franchise which was then generating 20% of group revenues to stop its unfettered licensing.[14][1] Ahrendts says she did not model her approach after any other fashion house, but looked to world-class design as an influence, including Apple Inc.[1] The company value rose during her tenure from £2 billion to over £7 billion.[1] CNN Money reported that during 2012, she was the highest-paid CEO in the U.K., making $26.3 million.[15]

Apple

On 15 October 2013, it was announced that Ahrendts would leave Burberry in Spring 2014 to join Apple Inc. as a member of its executive team as senior vice president of retail and online stores, filling the spot vacated by John Browett in October 2012. On 1 May 2014, Apple's new SVP of Retail and Online Stores Angela Ahrendts was placed on the Apple Leadership roster, signaling her official entry into the company.[16][17]

According to Apple's 2015 Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,[18] Ahrendts earned over $70 million in 2014, more than any other executive at Apple, including CEO Tim Cook. As of August 2016, she is reported to own approximately US$11 million worth of Apple shares.[19]

On 5 February 2019, Apple announced that Ahrendts would be leaving in April[20] to be replaced by Deirdre O'Brien.

Board memberships

Ahrendts is a non-executive board member of Save the Children, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Airbnb and Charity: Water. As of 1 July 2020, she is also a non-executive member of the board of WPP plc, considered the world's largest advertising company.[21]

Awards and memberships

Personal life

Ahrendts met her husband Gregg Couch in elementary school and were high school sweethearts. The couple has three children.[33] When Ahrendts was working at Burberry, the family lived in a 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) home on an 8 acres (3.2 ha) plot west of London.[1] Brought up a Methodist, she is still an active Christian.[1]

See also

References
  1. Hass, Nancy (9 September 2010). "Earning Her Stripes". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010.
  2. "A Ahrendts - United States Public Records". FamilySearch. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. "Burberry head Angela Ahrendts receives honorary DBE". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  4. "Angela Ahrendts". Businessweek. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  5. Fried, Ina (14 October 2013). "Apple Hires Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts to Head its Retail Efforts". All Things Digital. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  6. Howard, Caroline. "The World's Most Powerful Women 2014". Forbes. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  7. "The Power List 2013". BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour.
  8. Fairchild, Caroline; Leahey, Colleen; VanderMey, Ane (2014). "The Most Powerful Women in Business". Fortune. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  9. "Business Advisory Group". gov.uk. 18 November 2014.
  10. Theresa May tells big business advisers: no more advice please The Guardian, 22 September 2016.
  11. Chu, Jeff (4 January 2014). "Can Apple's Angela Ahrendts Spark a Retail Revolution?". Fast Company. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  12. "100 Years – Ball State University". bsu.edu. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. "Executive Profile - Angela Ahrendts". Businessweek. 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  14. Kuehlwein, JP; Schaeffer, Wolf (2015). Rethinking Prestige Branding - Secrets of the Ueber-Brands. London: Kogan Page. p. 211. ISBN 978-0749470036.
  15. Petroff, Alanna (11 June 2013). "Top paid CEO in U.K. is an American woman". CNN Money. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  16. "Burberry chief Angela Ahrendts to join Apple". BBC News. 15 October 2013.
  17. Marfil, Lorelei (8 April 2014). "Angela Ahrendts Named Honorary DBE". WWD. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  18. Apple Inc. (9 January 2015). "Apple Inc., 2015 Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934". Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  19. "ANGELA J AHRENDTS Insider Trading Overview". insidermole.com. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  20. "Apple names Deirdre O'Brien senior vice president of Retail + People". apple.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  21. "WPP Appoints Angela Ahrendts DBE to the Board". businesswire.com. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  22. Wood, Zoe (12 December 2012). "Cameron reshuffles business matters advisory group". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  23. "St. George's Society of New York 2012 Annual Report" (PDF). St. George's Society of New York. 2012. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  24. "Angela Ahrendts". Business of Fashion. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  25. "No. 63999". The London Gazette. 17 March 2023. p. 5218.
  26. McGill Murphy, Richard (17 November 2011). "2011 Businessperson of the Year". CNN Money.
  27. Adamo, Marilyn; Leahey, Colleen (21 November 2013). "2013'S Top People In Business". CNN Money.
  28. Friedman, Vanessa (12 December 2013). < "Angela Ahrendts". Financial Times. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  29. "The 1000 Most Creative People in Business: Angela Ahrendts - CEO, Burberry". Fast Company. 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  30. Arora, Rupali; Dunn, Catherine; Kowitt, Beth; Leahey, Colleen; Sellers, Patricia; Vandermey, Anne (6 February 2014). "The 50 Most Powerful Women in Business: Global edition Fortune's Most Powerful Women". CNN Money.
  31. Arora, Rupali (10 October 2013). "Most Powerful Women - The International Power 50". CNN Money.
  32. "50 Most Powerful Women in Business 2012". CNN Money. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  33. Hunsinger, Dana (15 October 2013). "Angela Ahrendts, a shy girl from Indiana, lands executive post at Apple". Indy Star. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
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