Rumours have been swirling for some time, and on Wednesday Burberry confirmed that Riccardo Tisci will be stepping down, just days after he showed his spring/ summer 23 collection for the British brand.
The Italian designer will be replaced by Daniel Lee, the recently departed creative director of Bottega Veneta, who will assume his new position at Burberry’s Pimlico headquarters on October 3.
Tisci was hired by former Chief Executive Marco Gobetti in 2018 to help elevate the position of the 166-year-old brand in the luxury sector. He brought a streetwear-inflected vibe to the storied British coat maker via hype products, celebrity collaborations and NFT collections.
The end of his five-year tenure coincides with the start of new CEO Jonathan Ackeroyd, who joined in March 2022, and the departure of six-year alum Julia Brown, who was Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer during his time there.
In his time at the helm of Bottega Veneta from 2018 to 2021, Daniel Lee, who has previously worked at Celine, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga and Donna Karan, achieved incredible commercial success with sell-out accessories and a particularly popular pantone of ‘Bottega green.’
“Daniel is an exceptional talent with a unique understanding of today’s luxury consumer and a strong record of commercial success, and his appointment reinforces the ambitions we have for Burberry. I am excited about working closely with him and I am confident he will have the impact we are aiming for in this next phase, supported by our talented and experienced teams,” Akeroyd said.
Lee, born in Yorkshire where Burberry manufactures its famous trench coats, said he was honoured to join the fashion house and build on Tisci’s legacy.
