The Group welcomes Sharmila Murat as Group Chief Commercial Officer and Emmanuel de Place as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bluebell Korea

Hong Kong, August 2023 – Bluebell Group is thrilled to announce the appointment of two prominent industry leaders, Sharmila Murat and Emmanuel de Place, to its top management team. As the Group continues its trajectory of growth and expansion, the addition of these accomplished executives will significantly bolster Bluebell’s strategic capabilities and strengthen its position in the Asian retail market.

Sharmila Murat, an experienced leader in the luxury retail industry, will join the Bluebell Group as Group Chief Commercial Officer. In this newly created regional role, Sharmila will report directly to the Group’s President & CEO, Ashley Micklewright, and play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the company’s strategic direction for the years to come. Her extensive background in driving growth, transforming businesses, and championing exceptional consumer experiences makes her an ideal fit for the Bluebell Group’s mission. Prior to joining Bluebell Group, Sharmila served as the Chief Investment Officer at the
Chalhoub Group, where she played a key role in the creation and launch of new brands and concepts. With more than 25 years of strategic, operating, and investment experience in both the United States and the Middle East, Sharmila’s exceptional track record and expertise will undoubtedly drive Bluebell’s commercial success.

Simultaneously, Bluebell Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Emmanuel de Place taking over the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Bluebell Korea, also reporting into the Group’s President & CEO. Emmanuel brings with him over two decades of transformative leadership in travel retail and selective distribution of luxury, fashion, and high-end consumer goods. He has spent most of his career at Lagardère Travel Retail, in Canada and the United States, then managing the fast-developing region of Central Europe. Since 2010, he has been Regional CEO for Asia-Pacific, based in Singapore, where he led the rapid development of the group’s luxury and fashion businesses, particularly in Greater China, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, forging new partnership with both brands and local operators, shaping new business models, and developing innovative retail concepts and customer experiences. Emmanuel’s solid experience of operational management, as well as his track record in driving business growth, will be invaluable to the future of Bluebell Korea’s development.

“We are delighted to welcome both Sharmila Murat and Emmanuel de Place to the Bluebell Group,” said Ashley Micklewright, President & CEO of the Bluebell Group. “Their proven industry leadership in driving growth and transformative strategies will be invaluable in our journey towards our success in Asia’s luxury retail industry.”

With these strategic hires, Bluebell Group reinforces its commitment to delivering unparalleled luxury retail experiences and further solidifies its position as a leader in the industry. The Group eagerly anticipates the fresh perspectives and expertise that Sharmila Murat and Emmanuel de Place will bring to the organization, propelling it towards new heights of success.

ABOUT BLUEBELL GROUP
Bluebell Group has pioneered building successful brands in Asia since 1954. As Asia’s partner of choice, Bluebell Group is present in Japan, South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Macau SAR, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Australia.

The Group’s distribution network includes flagship stores, shop-in-shops, counters, its own multi- brand concepts, as well as a highly selective wholesale network, together with both direct e- commerce and marketplaces, covering both domestic and Travel Retail. The Group operates across multiple product categories: Accessories, Footwear, Apparel, Fragrance, Beauty, Gourmet, Jewellery, Watches, and Tobacco.

A family-owned group, Bluebell Group today has over 3,800 staff, 650 points-of-sale, US$2b in turnover. www.bluebellgroup.com

PRESS CONTACTS
Bluebell Group
Anne Geronimi
ageronimi@bluebellgroup.com