IKKS appoints Alexandre Meerson as chief executive officer

The IKKS fashion group is opening a new chapter in its development with the appointment of Alexandre Meerson as its chief executive officer (CEO). An ESCP graduate, he succeeds Santiago Cucci, who oversaw the company’s acquisition and set its repositioning in motion before joining its board of directors. Drawing on his experience at Sephora and LVMH, Alexandre Meerson is tasked with further developing the French brand, building on its heritage.

“Some heritage brands do not need to reinvent themselves. They need to remember what made them unique, and pair that with how commerce really works today,” the new chief executive wrote in a LinkedIn post. After leaving Sephora a few months ago, Alexandre Meerson joined MB.SC- the investment vehicle of Michaël Benabou and Stéphane Collaert, a co-owner of IKKS- as a partner, before being appointed CEO today.

The new CEO has spent most of his career at LVMH and Sephora. At Sephora, he served as director of digital, data, and technology, overseeing the retailer’s omni-channel operations across 23 markets. He had previously led e-commerce for Europe and the Middle East, before taking charge of strategic digital development.

Before joining the beauty retailer in 2021, Alexandre Meerson spent seven years at LVMH, where he led international projects in digital strategy and omni-channel transformation. His remit included the development of e-commerce and CRM strategies, as well as supporting several of the group’s houses, among them Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Givenchy, Celine, Berluti, Kenzo, Le Bon Marché, and Moët Hennessy.

After several weeks within the company- visiting boutiques, workshops and meeting teams- Alexandre Meerson says he has found at IKKS “a genuine identity, colleagues who care about it and customers who feel something when they wear the clothes.” He now intends to evolve the brand while remaining true to its DNA.

‘The mission is simple: to create products that could only bear the IKKS name- pieces with character, well designed and sought after because they are authentic, not because they follow a trend,” he writes, adding that he also plans to draw on data, technology and artificial intelligence to strengthen relationships with customers.

On June 17, during a presentation held at one of the brand’s Paris boutiques, Santiago Cucci reviewed the first six months of work carried out with Michaël Benabou and their management team. The group expects to exceed €120 million in turnover in 2026, with profitability set to strengthen in 2027. Without altering IKKS’s core stylistic principles, management intends in particular to expand its menswear range, while continuing the work under way on its image with new campaigns fronted by Alizée Lim. A male brand ambassador will also accompany the launch of the ‘Urban Lab’ line this autumn.