Rose Marie Bravo
Encyclopedia
Rose Marie Bravo is an American businesswoman. During her career, she has occupied leadership positions in several major fashion businesses and is now vice chairman at Burberry
, of which she was CEO from 1997 to 2005.
Bravo, whose Italian-born father owned a hairdressing business in the New York
Bronx, attended the elite public Bronx High School of Science
and went on to study English literature at Fordham University
. She graduated cum laude and joined Abraham and Strauss' department store at Long Island
as a buyer in 1971. In 1974, she was recruited by Macy's
. When her company bought I. Magnin
she continued to work there until the bankrupt of Macy's in 1992. After five more years as President and Chief Merchant of Saks Fifth Avenue
, Burberry chose to appoint her as a chief executive.
In her new job she initiated a radical reform of the British classic brand and improvements of the company structure. Her strategy included signing top model Kate Moss
and recruiting the young designer Christopher Bailey
in 2001, who was working for Gucci
at that time. The Burberry line of products was greatly increased and especially the newly added perfumes contributed to the company's raising profits.
With Bravo as a CEO, Burberry managed to expand greatly on the US market. The company's sales doubled from 470 million to 1 billion USD. The same happened to the profits, e. g. in the six months before September 30, 2003 they increased to a total of 115 million USD.
In recognition of her work, she earned a reputation of being one of the top female business people. For instance, New York's Wall Street Journal listed her in its 2004 top 50 hall of fame, Fortune Magazine ranked her #13
in its 2004 and 2005 lists of "The 50 most Powerful Women in Business" outside the US.
In 2005, Burberry announced Bravo would step down for Angela Ahrendts
(formerly Liz Claiborne
). After a 6 months transitional period, Bravo retired as a CEO and became vice chairman of Burberry.
Burberry
Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...
, of which she was CEO from 1997 to 2005.
Bravo, whose Italian-born father owned a hairdressing business in the New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Bronx, attended the elite public Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
and went on to study English literature at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
. She graduated cum laude and joined Abraham and Strauss' department store at Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
as a buyer in 1971. In 1974, she was recruited by Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
. When her company bought I. Magnin
I. Magnin
I. Magnin & Company was a San Francisco, California-based high fashion and specialty goods luxury department store. Over the course of its existence, it expanded across the West into Southern California and the adjoining states of Arizona, Oregon, and Washington...
she continued to work there until the bankrupt of Macy's in 1992. After five more years as President and Chief Merchant of Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, Burberry chose to appoint her as a chief executive.
In her new job she initiated a radical reform of the British classic brand and improvements of the company structure. Her strategy included signing top model Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
and recruiting the young designer Christopher Bailey
Christopher Bailey
Christopher Bailey is a lecturer of English at the University of Brighton and is an occasional screenwriter for television.He wrote the script for the Doctor Who serial Kinda in 1982...
in 2001, who was working for Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
at that time. The Burberry line of products was greatly increased and especially the newly added perfumes contributed to the company's raising profits.
With Bravo as a CEO, Burberry managed to expand greatly on the US market. The company's sales doubled from 470 million to 1 billion USD. The same happened to the profits, e. g. in the six months before September 30, 2003 they increased to a total of 115 million USD.
In recognition of her work, she earned a reputation of being one of the top female business people. For instance, New York's Wall Street Journal listed her in its 2004 top 50 hall of fame, Fortune Magazine ranked her #13
in its 2004 and 2005 lists of "The 50 most Powerful Women in Business" outside the US.
In 2005, Burberry announced Bravo would step down for Angela Ahrendts
Angela Ahrendts
Angela Ahrendts is an American businessperson and CEO of Burberry, the iconic British luxury brand. Headquartered in London the brand has built a global reputation for pioneering design and innovation...
(formerly Liz Claiborne
Liz Claiborne
Anne Elisabeth Jane "Liz" Claiborne was a Belgian-born American fashion designer and entrepreneur. Claiborne is best known for founding Liz Claiborne Inc. which in 1986 became the first company founded by a woman to make the Fortune 500...
). After a 6 months transitional period, Bravo retired as a CEO and became vice chairman of Burberry.
External links
- Mammon Interview: Bravo encore at Burberry, Observer - The Guardian, Jun 2 2002.