Confirmed! Natalie Massenet Has Joined Farfetch

Natalie Massenet has joined Net-A-Porter competitor Farfetch as the Non-Executive Co-Chairman.

Last December, DM Fashion Book reported that “Portuguese international fashion website Far Fetch was in talks to hire Massenet in an advisory role. It could be a consultancy role or a non-executive position.“

Today, Wednesday (March 1), we could officially confirm the fashion entrepreneur’s new role with Farfetch‘s Board of Directors as non-executive co-chairman, alongside Co-Chairman, Founder and CEO José Neves. In an announcement from Farfetch Group, Massenet‘s role will involve “growing the global brand and strengthening its partnerships with the fashion industry.”

“Natalie has unrivaled entrepreneurial instinct, understanding of the luxury consumer and knows how to build global brands like no one else,” said Neves in an official statement. “It is simply a dream come true to have Natalie partner with me, with a shared vision and tremendous will to – yet again – shape the future of luxury.”

Massenet took to Instagram and shared the exciting news with her 169k followers, saying “I am delighted to announce that I am joining FARFETCH as non-executive Co-Chairman alongside Executive Co-Chairman, Founder and CEO José Neves. Over the past 18 months my entrepreneurial drive, and passion for how innovation in technology can transform the future of luxury remains undiminished. In 1999 when I first thought about selling fashion online, the world was just waking up to the possibility. Today we expect access to everything, anytime, anywhere. The tech and logistics platforms that power the best e-commerce today have new decentralised business models. If I were starting an e-commerce company today, I would do it very differently. José is the best of our entrepreneurs; a brilliant mind, a visionary leader and a gentleman. I have been a fan since he founded FARFETCH in 2008, admiring how José and his team have forged their own path in luxury e-commerce. FARFETCH aggregates the most beautiful fashion curated by the world’s best boutiques and designer stores with the widest selection of styles into ONE easy-to-shop and brilliantly conceived API-enabled platform. A simple idea that is staggeringly difficult to execute that FARFETCH has cracked!! It’s no coincidence that all the most successful companies, Facebook, Amazon and Apple are also API-enabled platforms. FARFETCH is an example of the “collaborative economy” when businesses historically seen as competitors work together to offer the best possible customer experience and support the world’s luxury fashion brands. It is a truly global business (over 750 designers and boutiques partners delivering to 190 countries, same day delivery in 9 cities, translated into 9 languages) and growing fast. Over the last year trading has grown by 70%, with the most recent investment valuing the company at over $1bn. In my new non-exec role I look forward to further realising FARFETCH’s potential, developing its global brand and strengthening its fashion industry partnerships.”

We first reported that the Net-A-Porter founder resigned from the online fashion retailer prior to its planned merger with Yook (see the full story here). Following the official merger, YOOK Net-a-Porter Group promoted Alison Loehnis to president of The Net-a-Porter Group. She reports directly to CEO Federico Marchetti. In her new role, Loehnis oversees Net-a-Porter.com, Mr Porter.com, and PORTER magazine (see it here).

November 2015, we reported that Massenet has registered a new company called Imaginary Ventures Ltd. The company has been registered in the U.K. Paperwork was filed at Companies House, the official registry of all U.K. businesses (see it here). She’s also serves as chairman of the British Fashion Council since early September.

In the midst of all of Massenet‘s moves, we also reported that the American born could relocate back to the U.S. from London, and end up on Condé Nast short list of candidates to one day become Anna Wintour‘s successors at American Vogue (see it here). However, we could now confirm that it won’t happen. A Vogue spokeswoman emphasized that fact, saying, “There is absolutely no truth to this rumor.”

Photos Credit: Natalie Massenet’s Instagram