Kim Winser, OBE (born 11 March 1959) is a British businesswoman and Founder and CEO of the eponymous womenswear label, Winser London.[1] Winser was the youngest-appointed female commercial divisional board director at Marks & Spencer Plc, a former Chief Executive at Pringle of Scotland and Aquascutum, and former Chairman of Agent Provocateur.[2]

In 2006, Winser was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the British fashion industry.[3]

Early life and education

Kim Winser was born in Helensburgh, Scotland and educated at Purbrook Grammar School, Hampshire, England.[4][5] Winser is a former competitive tennis player and continues to play recreationally.[2]

Career

Winser began her career with Marks & Spencer Plc (M&S) having joined the Management Training Scheme in 1977.[6] Winser's rise through the ranks culminated in her appointment as Marks & Spencer's youngest Divisional Board Director, as Director of Womenswear, the Company's largest division at the time.[7][3]

Winser went on to deliver successful turnarounds for the iconic British heritage brands Pringle of Scotland (2000 - 2006) as Chief Executive Officer, and Aquascutum (2006 - 2009) as Global President and Chief Executive Officer.[8] Winser is credited with repositioning both brands from traditional fashion houses into contemporary global names.[9] Winser launched Pringle of Scotland's first dedicated flagship store on Bond Street, in the UK.[10] She also secured a number of high-profile celebrity partnerships which included Pierce Brosnan and Gisele Bündchen who both fronted campaigns for Aquascutum.[11]

Winser's turnarounds of Pringle of Scotland and Aquascutum were featured by the BBC in two separate programmes.[12][8][11] During this period Winser also worked with the Scottish cashmere and British wool industries, supporting initiatives, growth and exports.[13]

Following her tenure at Aquascutum, Winser was brought on by 3i, the UK-based private equity firm, as a Senior Advisor in early 2009, to support their investments across the retail and consumer industries and to Chair one of their portfolio's brands – Agent Provocateur. Winser helped successfully reposition the chain as a luxury brand, supporting their global expansion into new markets by which the company's underlying profits almost tripled.[14]

During this same period, she also served as an advisor to the global digital e-commerce business, Net-a-Porter, overseeing their expansion into new markets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.[15]

Winser London

In 2013, Kim Winser launched her eponymous womenswear line, Winser London.[1]

Fronted by supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, the first collection launched on 15 February 2013 with a concession pop-up at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge.[16][17][18] Recent guest collaborations include the actress Gillian Anderson and Cat Deeley, the TV personality, with exclusive capsule collections.[9][19][20]

Other accomplishments

Awarded an honorary doctorate by Heriot-Watt University in 2002 for her work with the British Textile Industry, Kim was bestowed an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty The Queen for services to the British fashion and retail industry in 2006.[21][6]

Winser is an Independent Non-Executive Director of the luxury Peninsula Hotel and Property Group and works with HRH The Prince of Wales to support his youth enterprise, The Prince's Trust.[6] Winser continues to act as a special advisor to a number of specific family funds on their investments.[22]

Winser previously served as a non-executive director of The Edrington Group.[23][24] By appointment of The Prime Minister, Winser also served as a trustee of the Natural History Museum.[13]

Kim Winser was also selected to work alongside various industry executives in delivering the Good Work Commission for the British Government. Chaired by Alan Parker, Chairman of Brunswick, the report 'Good Work and our Times' published in 2011, explored the belief that 'good work' is of benefit to employees, employers and society alike - and how to make it more rewarding for all involved.[25][26][27]

Winser became a contributor for Forbes in 2013.[28] In 2014, Winser was included in the BBC's 100 Women; a multi-format annual series established in 2013, examining the role, issues and achievements of women in the 21st Century.[29]

Fortune Magazine and Management Today have previously both named Winser as one of the most powerful women in business.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "House of Winser goes online". The Sunday Times. 27 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 Davidson, Andrew (16 September 2007). "Kim Winser, Aquascutum's leading light". Times Online. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  3. 1 2 Neville, Simon (3 February 2013). "Kim Winser: 'My clothes, and my business, are made to last'". Guardian. Director.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Women in Business". Scotland.org. April 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  5. 1 2 "KIM WINSER, OBE, PRESIDENT & CEO, AQUASCUTUM" (PDF). Aquascutum. 19 April 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 Robertson, David. "Business big shot: Kim Winser". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Jazz Shaper: Kim Winser". Mishcon de Reya LLP. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Scots Business Figures Honoured". BBC. 31 December 2005.
  9. 1 2 Thomson, Rebecca (26 September 2019). "Winser London gets to work with Gillian Anderson". Drapers. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  10. ↑ Jorn Madslien (5 September 2002). "Pringle Chief Builds Bond Street Castle". BBC.
  11. 1 2 Elliot Choueka (18 October 2006). "Transforming Aquascutum". BBC.
  12. ↑ Andrew Davidson (16 September 2007). "Kim Winser, Aquascutum's Leading Light". Times Online.
  13. 1 2 "Prime Minister Reappoints Dr Kim Winser to the Board of the Natural History Museum". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "Agent Provocateur taps into taste for luxury underwear". Financial Times. 4 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Kim Winser: 'My clothes, and my business, are made to last'". The Guardian. 3 February 2013.
  16. ↑ :The Financial Times. How to Spend it.15 February 2013
  17. ↑ :Ex Pringle Chief Pops Up, The Sunday Times. 1 September 2013
  18. ↑ "Harvey Nichols Designer Pop up Winser London :: Harper's BAZAAR". Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.: Harpers Bazaar, Harvey Nichols' First Designer Pop-Up. 2 September 2013
  19. ↑ Conti, Samantha (6 May 2021). "Britain's Cat Deeley Breaks Into Design, With Help From Winser London". WWD. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  20. ↑ Leaper, Caroline (8 May 2021). "Cat Deeley: 'I never thought I was going to crack America'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link): "Heriot-Watt University - Honorary Graduates"
  22. ↑ "Meet Kim Winser | Winser London | Winser London". www.winserlondon.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Conti, Samantha (19 November 2015). "Kim Winser Named to Board of Hotel Group". WWD. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  24. ↑ "SCOTLAND: New-look board at Edrington". Just Drinks. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  25. ↑ Chartered Management Institute (7 July 2011). "Good Work and our Times". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ↑ "HR Magazine - Good work is not an idealistic notion that has nothing to do with success – it is about doing business better". HR Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  27. ↑ Anna Kharbanda (4 July 2011). "UK Business Challenged to Generate More Good Work". The Work Foundation.
  28. ↑ : Forbes. 9 July 2013
  29. ↑ "Who are the 100 Women 2014?". BBC. 26 October 2014.
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