Swiss luxury watchmaker Zenith, part of the French group LVMH, has placed at its helm a manager currently at jeweller and watchmaker Chopard in a bid to revive the brand's flagging sales.

Director of operations and commercial director of Prada since the last quarter of 2007, Brian Blake is leaving the luxury house for personal reasons.

Cash-strapped consumers want quality but at an economical price, at least as far as hair and beauty treatments go, and they are willing to experiment more to get it.

Swatch Group's brand Swatch will be headed by Arlette-Elsa Emch who is taking over from Nicolas Hayek, allowing him to concentrate on the Breguet marque and other projects, a spokeswoman for the group said.

Gap Inc on Tuesday 5 May named returning company veteran Julie Rosen as senior vice president of merchandising for its Banana Republic brand, whose higher prices have turned off cost-conscious shoppers during the downturn.

Thierry Nataf, CEO of the horology brand Zenith for the LVMH group, will be leaving his post. After having joined the business in 2001, he must quit his position by the end of the month and will not be redeployed within the group.

Andreas Stockert has arrived at Hugo Boss. He joins the German group as Chief Operating Officer and is judged to be endowed with a “deep knowledge of logistics and supply chains” by Hellmut Albrecht, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Revlon Inc has appointed Alan Ennis its new chief executive and president effective May 1, the company said on Wednesday 29 April in unveiling a reshuffle of the comestic maker's top ranks.

The collaboration has been a short one; named director of design for ladies’ off-the-peg fashion at Sonia Rykiel at the end of 2007, Gabrielle Greiss is leaving the company. A mutual decision, the designer will be moving on after the catwalk for winter 2009.

The Canessa brothers have been reunited. Ballantyne, taken over in 2004 by Alfredo Canessa and investment funds group Charme, has entrusted its presidency to Giacomo Canessa; following Giuseppe Rossi into the role.

After the departure of Andreas Adenauer in December 2008, O’Neill named Tom Heidman as CEO temporarily; a permanent replacement has at last been found in Jan Valdmaa.

Italian eyewear maker Safilo's main shareholder is continuing talks with, mainly, four private equity funds and a deal is hoped for before end-June, chief executive Roberto Vedovotto said on Monday 27 April.

Ezra Dabah, board member and former chief executive of Children's Place Retail Stores Inc, said there was no current deal in place with Golden Gate related to a potential acquisition of the apparel retailer.

Franck Boclet is inspired by “the ancient tradions of master tailors”. The artistic director for men’s collections at the fashion house Ungaro since 2007 has leapt back into the past with an exceptional shirt that is custom-made.

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), specialist producer of aromas and flavourings, has announced that Keven Berryman, formerly of Nestlé Professional, will take the posts of Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.