A day after Natalie Massenet announced her resignation from Net-a-Porter, major luxury designers applauded her impact on the luxe fashion industry and e-commerce business.
“Natalie is a visionary. She changed the platform of fashion commerce,” said Tamara Mellon, who co-founded Jimmy Choo before more recently launching her own brand. “I am personally connected to Natalie and what she built, as she was one of the first to take a gamble on me when I started Jimmy Choo and again when launching Tamara Mellon Brand.”
London-based designer Nicholas Kirkwood, who has close ties to Massenet through her work as chairman of the British Fashion Council, has also hugely benefited from her support during his decade in the shoe business.
“Natalie has completely changed the face of retail,” said designer Nicholas Kirkwood. “Net-a-Porter has become the worldwide local department store. Natalie has championed not only the biggest names in the business but also many emerging brands. It cannot be over-emphasized the impact she has had. She is truly a trailblazer of the 21st century.”
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Yoox Group confirmed Massenet’s resignation yesterday and she issued a statement this morning.
“After 15 extraordinary and exceptional years at The Net-a-Porter Group, the completion of the merger with Yoox Group is the right time for me to move on to explore new ideas and opportunities,” Massenet said. “I am immensely proud of the achievements of everyone who has helped build the world’s greatest game changing luxury fashion company, and I thank them all for helping me realize and surpass our dreams. I also want to thank our millions of customers around the world for continuing to be our greatest champions and inspiration, and the brands and designers who embarked with me on this digital journey over a decade ago.”
Massenet went on to say that the business “could not be in better shape” after joining forces with Yoox Group. “The company will be bigger, stronger and superbly well positioned under Federico’s [Marchetti]’s leadership.”
While Massenet did not reveal future plans, she said her entrepreneurial spirit was stronger than ever.
The Net-a-Porter founder was due to assume the role of executive chairman when the deal with Yoox Group closed this fall. Marchetti will become the CEO.
