Angela Ahrendts
{{short description|American-British businesswoman (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Dame
| name = Angela Ahrendts
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}}
| image = Angela Ahrendts Burberry Chicago 2.png
| image_size =
| caption = Ahrendts in 2012
| birth_name = Angela Jean Ahrendts
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|06|07}}
| birth_place = New Palestine, Indiana, US
| citizenship = {{flatlist|
- United States
- United Kingdom
}}
| other_names = Angela Ahrendts-Couch
| known_for =
| education = Ball State University
| occupation = Senior Vice President, Retail, Apple Inc. (2014–2019)
CEO of Burberry (2006–2014)
| boards =
| spouse = Gregg Couch
| children = 3{{cite news| url=http://magazine.wsj.com/features/the-big-interview/earning-her-strips/ | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Nancy | last=Hass | title=Earning Her Stripes | date=9 September 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911195704/http://magazine.wsj.com/features/the-big-interview/earning-her-strips/ | archive-date=11 September 2010}}
| awards =
| signature =
| website =
}}
Dame Angela Jean Ahrendts, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} (born 7 June 1960){{cite web|title=A Ahrendts - United States Public Records|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KJDT-X3G|website=FamilySearch|access-date=23 January 2015}} is an American-British businesswoman who was previously the senior vice president of retail at Apple Inc. She was the CEO of Burberry from 2006 to 2014.{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=2015350&ticker=BRBY:LN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106024527/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=2015350&ticker=BRBY:LN|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2013|title=Angela Ahrendts |work=Businessweek|access-date=1 February 2013}} She left Burberry to join Apple in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://allthingsd.com/20131014/apple-hires-burberry-ceo-angela-ahrendts-to-head-its-retail-efforts/|title= Apple Hires Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts to Head its Retail Efforts|last=Fried|first=Ina|work=All Things Digital|access-date=14 October 2013|date=14 October 2013}} She was ranked 25th in Forbes' 2015 list of the most powerful women in the world,{{cite web |last1=Howard|first1=Caroline|title=The World's Most Powerful Women 2014|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/2/#tab:overall|website=Forbes|access-date=25 June 2014}} 9th most powerful woman in the U.K. in the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour 100 Power List,{{cite web|title=The Power List 2013|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb/features/power-list-100|work=BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour}} and 29th in Fortune{{'}}s 2014 list of the world's most powerful women in business.{{cite news|last1=Fairchild|first1=Caroline|last2=Leahey|first2=Colleen|last3=VanderMey|first3=Ane|title=The Most Powerful Women in Business|url=http://fortune.com/most-powerful-women/angela-ahrendts-29/|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Fortune|date=2014}} She was also a member of the UK's Prime Minister's business advisory council until it was disbanded in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-advisory-group|title=Business Advisory Group|website=gov.uk|date=18 November 2014 }}[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/sep/22/theresa-may-tells-big-business-advisers-no-more-advice-please Theresa May tells big business advisers: no more advice please] The Guardian, 22 September 2016.
Early life
Ahrendts was born and raised in New Palestine, Indiana, the third of six children. Her father, Richard Ahrendts, was a businessman, and her mother, Jean, was a homemaker.{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3023591/angela-ahrendts-a-new-season-at-apple |title=Can Apple's Angela Ahrendts Spark a Retail Revolution? |work=Fast Company |date=4 January 2014 |first=Jeff |last=Chu |access-date=9 October 2014 }}
She attended New Palestine High School, where she was a varsity cheerleader. In 1981, she earned an undergraduate degree in Merchandising and Marketing from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=100 Years – Ball State University|url=https://bsu.edu/100|access-date=January 15, 2021|website=bsu.edu}}
Career
Ahrendts moved to New York City to work in the fashion industry. After a series of positions including merchandising at bra maker Warnaco, she joined Donna Karan International in 1989, working to develop the luxury brand internationally through both wholesale and licensing.{{cite news|title=Executive Profile - Angela Ahrendts|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=2015350&ticker=BRBY:LN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106024527/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=2015350&ticker=BRBY:LN|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2013|access-date=23 January 2015|work=Businessweek|date=2014}} In 1996, she was hired at Henri Bendel by Leslie Wexner to expand Bendel stores to 50 new markets, but the project was cancelled by the board of directors two years later.
In 1998, she joined Fifth & Pacific Companies as vice president of corporate merchandising and design. In 2001, she was promoted to senior vice president of corporate merchandising and group president, responsible for the merchandising of the group's 20 plus brands including Laundry by Shelli Segal, Lucky Brand Dungarees and the men's retail business of Liz Claiborne Inc. In 2002, she was promoted again to serve as executive vice president, with full responsibility for the complete line of Liz Claiborne products, services and development across both women's and men's lines.
= Burberry =
Ahrendts joined Burberry in January 2006, and took up the position of CEO on July 1, 2006, replacing Rose Marie Bravo. She mitigated the brand's decline in prestige by immediately limiting the number of clothing and accessories carrying the Burberry check pattern to 10%, minimizing the damage ubiquitous counterfeits had caused to sales. She also oversaw the buying back of the brand's fragrance and beauty product licenses and the buying out of the Spanish franchise which was then generating 20% of group revenues to stop its unfettered licensing.{{cite book|last1=Kuehlwein|first1=JP|last2=Schaeffer|first2=Wolf|title=Rethinking Prestige Branding - Secrets of the Ueber-Brands|date=2015|publisher=Kogan Page|location=London|isbn=978-0749470036|page=211}} She stated that she did not model her approach after any other fashion house, but looked to world-class design as an influence, including Apple Inc. The company value rose during her tenure from £2 billion to over £7 billion. CNN Money reported that during 2012, she was the highest-paid CEO in the U.K., making $26.3 million.{{cite news|last=Petroff|first=Alanna|title=Top paid CEO in U.K. is an American woman|url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/06/11/news/companies/burberry-pay-ceo/index.html?iid=HP_LN&hpt=ibu_c2|work=CNN Money|access-date=11 June 2013|date=11 June 2013}}
= Apple =
On 15 October 2013, it was announced that Ahrendts would leave Burberry in Spring 2014 to join Apple Inc. as a member of its executive team as senior vice president of retail and online stores, filling the spot vacated by John Browett in October 2012. On 1 May 2014, she was placed on the Apple Leadership roster.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24530768 | work=BBC News | title=Burberry chief Angela Ahrendts to join Apple | date=15 October 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/ahrendts-accolade-7633326?src=nl/mornReport/20140408 | title=Angela Ahrendts Named Honorary DBE | work=WWD | date=8 April 2014 | access-date=8 April 2014 | last=Marfil| first=Lorelei}}
According to Apple's 2015 proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000119312515017607/d774604ddef14a.htm | title=Apple Inc., 2015 Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | date=9 January 2015 | access-date=22 January 2015 | last=Apple Inc.}} Ahrendts earned over $70 million in 2014, more than any other executive at Apple, including CEO Tim Cook. As of August 2016, she is reported to own approximately US$11 million worth of Apple shares.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidermole.com/insider/ahrendts-angela-j|title=ANGELA J AHRENDTS Insider Trading Overview|website=insidermole.com|access-date=23 August 2016}}
On 5 February 2019, Apple announced that she would leave the company in April{{cite web |title=Apple names Deirdre O'Brien senior vice president of Retail + People |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/02/apple-names-deirdre-obrien-senior-vice-president-of-retail-and-people/ |website=apple.com |access-date=5 February 2019}} to be replaced by Deirdre O'Brien.
= Board memberships =
Ahrendts is a non-executive board member of Save the Children, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Airbnb and Charity: Water. As of 1 July 2020, she is also a non-executive member of the board of WPP plc.{{Cite web|date=11 June 2020|title=WPP Appoints Angela Ahrendts DBE to the Board|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005487/en/WPP-Appoints-Angela-Ahrendts-DBE-to-the-Board|access-date=8 July 2021|website=businesswire.com}}
Awards and memberships
- 2000: Crain's New York "Rising Stars 40 under 40"
- 2010: Awarded honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Ball State.
- 2010–present: Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group, Member{{cite news|last1=Wood|first1=Zoe|title=Cameron reshuffles business matters advisory group|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/dec/12/cameron-reshuffles-business-advisory-group|access-date=23 January 2015|work=The Guardian|date=12 December 2012}}
- 2010: CNBC European Business Leader of the Future
- 2010: Oracle World Retail Awards, Outstanding Leadership Award
- 2011: St George's Society of New York, Medal of Honor{{cite web|title=St. George's Society of New York 2012 Annual Report|url=http://www.stgeorgessociety.org/doc/aboutus/St-George-Book-2012.pdf|website=St. George's Society of New York|access-date=23 January 2015|page=6|date=2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125121132/http://www.stgeorgessociety.org/doc/aboutus/St-George-Book-2012.pdf|archive-date=25 January 2015|url-status=dead}}
- 2011 (also 2010): Financial Times Top 50 Women in World Business
- 2011: Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, Honorary Fellow
- 2013: Business of Fashion BoF 500{{cite web|title=Angela Ahrendts|url=http://www.businessoffashion.com/angela-ahrendts|website=Business of Fashion|access-date=23 January 2015|archive-date=16 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316234818/http://www.businessoffashion.com/angela-ahrendts|url-status=dead}}
- 2013: [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254608/2013_Honorary_Awards_-_October_update.pdf The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire], a DBE for services to British business.{{Cite web|title=Burberry head Angela Ahrendts receives honorary DBE|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/burberry-head-angela-ahrendts-receives-honorary-dbe|access-date=2021-10-01|website=GOV.UK|language=en}} Made substantive in 2023.{{London Gazette|issue=63999|page=5218|date=17 March 2023}}
- 2013 (also 2010, 2011): Fortune{{'}}s Businesspeople of the Year (2010, 2011, 2013){{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/fortune/1111/gallery.business_person_year.fortune/40.html | work=CNN Money | title=2011 Businessperson of the Year|date=17 November 2011|last=McGill Murphy|first=Richard}}
- 2013: Ranked #4 in Fortune{{'}}s 2013 top people in business{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/gallery/leadership/2013/11/21/business-person-year.fortune/4.html|work=CNN Money | first1=Marilyn | last1=Adamo|first2=Colleen|last2=Leahey|title=2013'S Top People In Business|date=21 November 2013}}
- 2013: Financial Times Women of 2013{{cite news|last1=Friedman|first1=Vanessa|title=Angela Ahrendts|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/5c74c59c-6145-11e3-916e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2tbdO1wn5<|access-date=23 January 2015|work=Financial Times|date=12 December 2013}}
- 2013 (also 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012): Forbes{{'}} 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- 2013: 9th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4
- 2014: Fast Company Most Creative People in Business{{cite news|title=The 1000 Most Creative People in Business: Angela Ahrendts - CEO, Burberry|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/person/angela-ahrendts|access-date=23 January 2015|work=Fast Company|date=2014}}
- 2014 (also 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013): Fortune{{'}}s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/gallery/leadership/2014/02/06/global-most-powerful-women.fortune/50.html | work=CNN Money | first1=Rupali | last1=Arora | first2=Catherine | last2=Dunn | first3=Beth | last3=Kowitt | first4=Colleen | last4=Leahey | first5=Patricia | last5=Sellers | first6=Anne | last6=Vandermey | title=The 50 Most Powerful Women in Business: Global edition Fortune's Most Powerful Women | date=6 February 2014}}{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/gallery/leadership/2013/10/10/international-50-most-powerful-women.fortune/15.html | work=CNN Money | first=Rupali | last=Arora | title=Most Powerful Women - The International Power 50 | date=10 October 2013}}{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/most-powerful-women/2012/global/ | work=CNN Money | title=50 Most Powerful Women in Business 2012|accessdate=23 July 2023}}
Personal life
Ahrendts met her husband, Gregg Couch, while they were in elementary school, and they were high school sweethearts. The couple has three children.{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2013/10/15/angela-ahrendts-a-shy-girl-from-indiana-lands-executive-post-at-apple/2988547/ |title=Angela Ahrendts, a shy girl from Indiana, lands executive post at Apple |work=Indy Star |date=15 October 2013 |first=Dana |last=Hunsinger |access-date=9 October 2014 }} When she was working at Burberry, the family lived in a {{convert|12000|ft2}} home on an {{convert|8|acre}} plot west of London. Brought up a Methodist, she is still an active Christian.
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.apple.com/leadership/angela-ahrendts/ Angela Ahrendts] at Apple
- {{Twitter}}
- [http://www.makers.com/angela-ahrendts Angela Ahrendts] Video produced by Makers: Women Who Make America
{{Apple}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahrendts, Angela}}
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:20th-century American businesswomen
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:21st-century American businesswomen
Category:American businesspeople in retailing
Category:American chief executives of fashion industry companies
Category:American emigrants to England
Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
Category:Methodists from Indiana
Category:American women chief executives
Category:Apple Inc. executives
Category:Ball State University alumni
Category:People from New Palestine, Indiana
Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Women corporate executives
Category:21st-century British businesswomen
Category:21st-century British businesspeople
Category:British businesspeople in retailing