Mark Lee is Barneys' New CEO, Ta-Da?

I didn't know what to take of this article. Granted, I'm fairly new and not familiar with all the names and history of top business "executives" in the fashion industry but I'm assuming Barneys' PR put out this announcement and I could only take the news at face value.

Fashions tendency to promote trend is apparent through the use of "new." Sadly, and amusingly for those who could look beyond trends knows new normally indicates the beginning of an end, transitioning to "old." Curious, the first thing I did was google image Mark Lee to see what he looks like. I found a few pictures but the one below with Frida Gianni caught my eye. Frida Gianni is the current creative director for Gucci.

First thought of Mark was that he's an attractive man with a bashful smile. A slightly buzzed cut which indicates his attempt at being relevant in the fashion industry. He looks to be a man in his late forties that's aging well; Mark could pass for early to middle forties. His suits are little roomy which indicates the weighted stereotype of a back-office manager who worries more on the business than the looks; however, if anyone has seen the Arnaults and Pinaults could say otherwise, these two families and the men in them have been quoted as (Tom) Ford's followers. I digress.

Mark seems like he has good intentions, but then the article describes him as having more than 25 years in luxury and retail. I'm sure it's meant to say "luxury retail" because I'm not sure what "25 years in luxury" means, unless they are trying to paint an image of a man lounging in St. Tropez. It's also noted his experience consist of Saks, Jil Sander, and Giorgio Armani. The article also notes Istithmar World as "struggling with massive debt."

If this was intended to be a positive PR release, someone should get fired. Fashion and retail are progressing forward and not sure what someone with 25 years in luxury and retail really indicates positively for Barneys other than highlighting that Mark is an individual who has worked for 25 years. Just because one names Saks, Jil Sander, and Giorgia Armani does not highlight Mark has being more than qualify for the position. Saks is not doing well, though Mark wasn't at the recent helm, Jil Sander has lost its luster and only currently revived by Raf Simons, all not under Mark's influence and Giorgio Armani has been outdated until Gaga gave him a spot in her video and as a costume designer for her tour.

In addition, describing the parent company as struggling with massive debt, I'm not sure how much I trust their judgement on future initiative unless there's mentioning of an outside consulting firm taking over and making different judgement calls than before. I'm sure Mark Lee is qualified in managing people, and he's an attractive man, but what Barneys need is not a CEO who's main experiences are outside of technological innovation and advancements.

I would think Barneys should put its business up as a business case and turn to top university MBAs and see what ideas would come up to resolve their current funk. I just received Barneys Co-Op mailing and it's 3D. As great as it is, I'm not sure how wise it may have been cost-wise. I'm not sure how many audiences it captured or how much loyalty it built but I sure didn't care anymore or less about the ad. I actually found it annoying since the 3D glasses that came with it had no bridges so I had to hold it up to my face while I flipped through the showcase.

I'm sure Barneys has a lot of great networks and a lot of wisdom internally so another option could have been to hire someone not to connected to luxury retail, or someone who had experience beyond luxury retail to give a fresh perspective on the current business model.

What little I know of Mark Lee based on the article I read, I hope he's open-minded and more flexible with current ideas out there and not be so hung up on the traditional wisdom he's accumulated in the 25 years he's been in luxury retail industry.



Article: Barneys appoints Mark Lee as new CEO

As it recedes, the coldest hand.

"A surge of energy pounds through every inch of him, and there is a moment of perfect oblivion where he is aware of nothing and everything. A kind of peace breaks out behind his eyes. It spreads down from his temple into his chest, to his hands and everywhere. It storms through him - kinetic, sexual, euphoric - like a magnificent hurricane raging at the speed of light. It is the warmest, most tender caress he has ever felt and then, as it recedes, the coldest hand."

Honestly, I had low expectation of the book so I perused it and got what I could about it but I ended up enjoying it.

What stood out to me the most was when Bill was in a hotel and he's pretty strung and high from smoking crack. He had called an escort to come over for sex and his boyfriend of a few years shows up unexpectedly. Bill begs his boyfriend to leave but his boyfriend stays and tells Bill he's going to stay and it's going to be ok, while tears fall down his face. Despite informing his boyfriend that an escort is coming, his boyfriend stays and the escort carries out his task. As Bill is consumed and engaged with this escort, he looks over and sees his boyfriend holding his hands with teary eyes. His boyfriend restates to Bill that it's ok and Bill wishes he won't remember.

How heart wrenching is that? I can't possibly imagine how Bill's boyfriend is feeling. I can't imagine how Bill feels. It was difficult for me to fault Bill completely; which is what the memoir does beautifully - shedding light on drug addicts as still being human where they're still conscious of their behavior and what goes on around them to a degree, but they're not completely removed. Addicts still feels guilty, still feels pain but it fades quickly.

I can't possibly spoil the story but this is one book I would recommend reading. It's a pretty quick read. You could get a cup of coffee and finish it in 3 hours and give yourself an hour to process the story.


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