New boss at Jimmy Choo

Designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo has hired a new chief executive.

Pierre Denis joins as chief executive from John Galliano.

He replaces Joshua Schulman who left last year, hot on the heels of joint founder and former creative director Tamara Mellon who exited when the upmarket shoemaker was bought by Labelux last May.

Labelux, a luxury goods company backed by Germany's Reimann family who made their money from household goods giant Reckitt Benckiser, bought the brand from private equity owner TowerBrook Capital Partners. Jimmy Choo joined Labelux's growing portfolio of upmarket brands including Belstaff and Bally.

Jimmy Choo, which now has 150 stores in 32 countries, started life as a small bespoke shoemaker in east London. Choo was joined by the former fashion journalist and "It" girl Mellon, who turned the boutique business into a global shoe empire.

Reinhard Mieck, chief executive officer of Labelux, said: "With his unrivalled experience of the international luxury sector and keen understanding of our business, Pierre is without question the right person to drive forward the Jimmy Choo business and exploit the enormous growth potential of what is an exceptional brand.”

Denis has had a long career in luxury goods and has worked for French group LVMH where he worked with brands such as Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy. He will work alongside Jimmy Choo creative directors Sandra Choi and Simon Holloway.