IADS Exclusive: Hunkemöller’s CEO on the importance of staying agile to keep up with digital retail trends

It is not every day that a retail CEO knows and plans his exit as the leader of a retail brand, but this is precisely what made Philip Mountford, the current CEO of Hunkemöller, an interesting guest speaker for the IADS 63rd General Assembly in London last November.  

Philip Mountford's career in fashion retail spans significant roles across Europe and the UK. He started at Simpson Piccadilly as a purchasing director, then advanced to senior positions in renowned companies. As CEO of Moss Bros Group PLC, he led a major menswear retailer with an extensive store network and franchise partnerships with brands like Hugo Boss and Canali. He also held the Managing Director role at Gianni Versace, focusing on regions including the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia, and had pivotal roles at Nautica and Daks PLC. Most notably, as CEO of Hunkemöller, Europe's largest lingerie brand, he grew the business to an €800 million valuation, with e-commerce driving 40% of sales. Mountford is set to leave Hunkemöller in early 2024 after a transformative 15-year tenure. Before stepping down, he was able to address IADS CEOs and answer their burning questions with candid and open responses.  

IADS provides its members with a weekly in-depth analysis on retail-oriented topics. 

*IADS Exclusives are for members only. You can subscribe to our Substack to recieve our weekly exclusives here.*