L&T’s Vanessa LeFebvre Headed to Adidas
● The executive will have broad responsibilities for the brand’s North American businesses.
Vanessa LeFebvre, president of Lord & Taylor, is joining Adidas in a key role, WWD has learned.
LeFebvre next month will become Adidas’ senior vice president, commercial, overseeing the brand’s U.S. wholesale, stores and dot-com businesses.
“She will be responsible for defining the overall commercial strategy in North America, which will include wholesale, owned retail, e-commerce and key cities,” an Adidas spokeswoman said Friday. LeFebvre could not be reached for comment.
LeFebvre is expected to report to Zion Armstrong, president of Adidas North America, and relocate to Adidas’ America headquarters in Portland, Ore. Armstrong previously held the role that LeFebvre will be filling.
The 22 billion euro Adidas footwear and sportswear empire is based in Herzogenaurach, Germany. The brand has been growing rapidly, largely due to its celebrity collaborations with Beyoncé, Kanye West and others, its business in China and through e-commerce. Adidas owns Reebok.
LeFebvre has been president of Lord & Taylor since May 2018. Last month, the Hudson’s Bay Co., which owns Lord & Taylor, said it decided to put Lord & Taylor up for sale. It was later disclosed that LeFebvre would be leaving the department store chain, which has been struggling for years, well before LeFebvre headed up the store.
Before Lord & Taylor, LeFebvre worked at Stitch Fix, where she was focused on data science and personalization and was vice president over women’s. Before that, she was at Macy’s Inc., where she was instrumental in launching the Backstage off-price concept that Macy’s continues to roll out inside its stores.
LeFebvre started her career at Lord & Taylor in 1999 in the executive training program and eventually rose to divisional merchandise manager. She went on to hold senior roles at T. J. Maxx, as a divisional merchandise manager, and Daffy’s, where she was chief merchant and helped wind down the off-price chain.
Industry sources characterized LeFebvre as “a change agent” and cited her strong experience leading digitally focused strategies.
While at L&T, LeFebvre oversaw a partnership with walmart.com that was started in an effort to lift L&T’s online business. She also oversaw some renovations as well as store closings.