> Executives / Non-executives

Frédéric Bobo (aged 49) - Executive Chairman
Frédéric Bobo, a French national, has almost 20 years of experience in investment banking and in corporate advisory services. He began his career in 1988, as a corporate banker at Banque Bruxelles Lambert, first in New York, then in Brussels. In 1990, Frédéric joined Eurogroup Consultants in Paris, where, as a consultant in organisation strategy for financial institutions and groups, he participated in the creation of the Warsaw Stock-Exchange (Société des Bourses Françaises assignment, 1991). In 1992, Frédéric assisted Société Générale bank in creating Société Générale Finance Développement (SGFD, Managing Director), an affiliate of Société Générate Investment Banking M&A Division) which was exclusively dedicated to investment banking and corporate advisory services in emerging markets (5 offices in Eastern Europe – Commonwealth of Independent States). There, Frédéric directly led and managed over 150 assignments including privatisations, corporate sales, IPOs, industrial restructurings, cross border M&A, joint-ventures and similar direct investment schemes, complex financial and tax related capital engineering, off-shore financial engineering. In 2001, Frédéric created his own venture, Stunning partners & co, which is both an idea laboratory and a corporate advisory consulting firm, and which provides corporate finance and strategic advisory services to companies and high profile managers. He graduated from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques d’Aix en Provence (1985); and also holds an MBA from the George Washington University (Washington, USA, 1988).

Philippe Hervé (aged 53) - Executive Director
Philippe Hervé, a French national, has 26 years of experience in the retailing and furniture industries. He started his career in the Darty Group, first as Business Controller at Darty Spain (1981), then as Product Manager in Marseille (1983), before being appointed Purchasing Director in Paris (1984). In 1988, after a short period at Groupe BATA France as Marketing Director (1987), he was appointed Managing Director of Centres Maison et Jardin, a subsidiary of the Nouvelles Galeries Group with the purpose of turning the company around before leading its sale to Groupe Atlas. Philippe joined the Recticel group in 1992, as Business Unit Manager and subsequently was appointed as Deputy Manager of South Europe Bedding in 1999. In 2002, Philippe joined Cauval Industries as its CEO of the seats division. In 2005 Philippe left to pursue his own entrepreneurial ventures and in 2006 he acquired a controlling capital stake in Omoté Futons, a retail chain specializing in Asian furniture. Philippe graduated from HEC in 1978 (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales - France).

Michael Hosie (aged 51) - ACA

Mike Hosie is a Chartered Accountant with experience in finance and operations.  He has worked in early stage and developing businesses at board level for both private and public companies.  He joined RMS Communications plc in 1996, where he was managing director.  In 1999 he joined Cedar plc as finance director.  In 2002 he became a consultant to MCI Inc where he was appointed to develop and implement the European, Middle Eastern and African operating and business plan for the Board.  Mike is also part time finance director of X-Phonics plc and Verdes Management plc both of which are AIM companies. 

> Executives / Non-executives

Helen Kennedy Lambert (aged 40) - non-Executive Director
Born in Ireland, Helen began her career in communications, notably as Director of Advertising for "Elle" magazine international, before becoming Managing Director of the AGA Group, a long standing international buying offices group focused on the luxury sector.
She purchased AGA in 2005 and rebranded it Lambert + Associates. It services all fashion categories of the luxury market, through the complementary activities of Buying, Sourcing and Consulting.
Acting as an intermediary to the luxury goods industry, Lambert + Associates identify new trends, designs and products, co-ordinate exclusive shows and displays for its clients buying teams, assist clients in driving sales and advise on luxury and lifestyle changes and on consumer behavior and habits.
From offices in New York, London, Paris, Milan and Florence, Lambert + Associates has extensive knowledge of the fashion/luxury industry, has long established relationships with both fashion houses and designers and also with suppliers and distributors and has been at the forefront of the international luxury goods retail market for over 30 years.
Helen is working with the following retail brands, including Neiman Marcus, Holt Renfrew, Lane Crawford & Pedder Group & Fenwick. Moreover, Helen has also very closed links with luxury Houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Jean Paul Gaultier, Tom Ford, Paul Smith and Fortnum and Mason, among others.

David Henderson-Stewart (aged 40) - non-Executive Director
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1973, David graduated cum laude from the Sorbonne (Paris, France) as well as from Oxford University. He subsequently obtained a master's degree in European law from the Sorbonne and was admitted to the Paris Bar. From 1997 to 1999 he served at the Moscow office of Bureau Francis Lefebvre, concentrating on legal and taxation monitoring of European investments in Russia. In 2000 he joined the French office of the American law firm Coudert Brothers and subsequently the Paris bureau of the international law firm Jones Day. Since 2005, David has held the position of Managing Director of International Affairs and Member of the Board of the International Industrial Bank-Mejprombank (zao Mejdunarodny Promishleny Bank). David is also member of the board of United Industrial Corporation-OPK, zao Obyedinionaya Promishlenaya Korporatsia, and the trustee of OPK Trust Company Limited.


Pierre Rainero (aged 50) - non-Executive Director
Pierre Rainero, a French national, spent his military service as an officer in the French navy, following which he started his career in advertising in 1980 at Ogilvy and Mother, initially in Rio de Janeiro and then in Paris. In 1984, he joined the Cartier Group. Whilst at the Cartier Group, Pierre has developed a broad expertise in the luxury goods industry and a unique insight into the management of luxury brands. Pierre first worked for Cartier as International Advertising Manager in Paris and was then promoted in 1987 to Marketing Manager for Cartier Italy based in Milan. In 1999 he returned to Paris and was appointed Research and Strategy Director at Cartier International. He subsequently became a member of the Cartier’s ‘Creation Committee’ headed by the president of Cartier, Alain-Dominique Perrin. In 1995, Pierre was appointed Communication Director of Cartier and, in 1999, he also took over the artistic direction of Cartier (responsibilities including product creation, communication, and boutique design). In 2001, he was appointed Artistic, Image & Strategy Director for Cartier and was subsequently appointed to his current role of Strategy and Heritage Director of the House of Cartier in 2003. In this role, Pierre is, amongst other things, responsible for style and the cultural dimensions of the House of Cartier worldwide. Pierre is a member of the board of directors of Cartier S.A. and Hexagram (which is involved in the production of computarised images). Pierre graduated from HEC in 1980 (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales - France). He is also a former student of Fondation Rachel Boyer (History of Art - Ecole du Louvre).