Joshua Schulman

Joshua Schulman is the chief executive of Burberry, appointed in July 2024 to lead a turnaround of the British luxury house. He previously ran Jimmy Choo, Bergdorf Goodman, Coach and, briefly, Michael Kors, building a reputation as one of the most experienced brand operators in luxury and premium fashion.

Who is Joshua Schulman?

Joshua Schulman is chief executive officer and an executive director of Burberry Group plc. He took up the role on 17 July 2024, after Burberry announced on 15 July that Jonathan Akeroyd was stepping down with immediate effect by mutual agreement. Schulman is based at Burberry's London headquarters and reports to the chair and the board.

Career

Schulman began his career in merchandising and product development, holding senior positions at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. He then led Jimmy Choo as chief executive from 2007 to 2012, a period in which the shoe and accessories brand expanded internationally.

He next became president of Bergdorf Goodman, the New York department store owned by Neiman Marcus Group, where Burberry notes he oversaw a renovation of the flagship and an expansion of its digital business. From 2017 to 2020 he was chief executive and brand president of Coach, the largest brand of Tapestry.

In 2021 Capri Holdings named him chief executive of Michael Kors, with a plan for him to become CEO of Capri Holdings in 2022. He left the company in March 2022 after around seven months in post, and Capri's chairman and CEO John Idol resumed direct leadership of the brand.

Influence on the fashion business

Schulman's appointment at Burberry was widely seen as a bet on operational experience at a time when the brand faced weak sales and a difficult luxury market. His track record spans three distinct business models that matter to Burberry: a founder-led accessories brand, a luxury department store and an accessible luxury leather goods label.

• Brand repositioning: experience recentring brands on their heritage and core categories, as at Coach.
• Retail and wholesale: perspective from both the brand side and the department store side of the industry.
• Global expansion: led the international growth of Jimmy Choo.

At the time of the appointment, Burberry chair Gerry Murphy described him as "a proven leader with an outstanding record of building global luxury brands and driving profitable growth".

Schulman's turnaround plan, called Burberry Forward, refocused the brand on core strengths such as outerwear and scarves, recalibrated pricing and simplified assortments. For fiscal 2026, reported in May 2026, Burberry posted revenue of 2.42 billion pounds, comparable store sales growth of 2 per cent and a reported operating profit of 115 million pounds, after a small loss the year before. Schulman called the year "a meaningful inflection point for Burberry".

Why it matters

Burberry is the best known British luxury brand and one of the few listed pure-play luxury houses in Europe. Its performance under Schulman is a reference point for how heritage brands respond to slower luxury demand, shifting price perceptions and changing customer expectations. His career also illustrates a broader industry trend: boards turning to executives with deep merchandising and retail experience, rather than purely financial backgrounds, to restore brand desirability and commercial momentum.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the CEO of Burberry?

Joshua Schulman has been chief executive of Burberry since 17 July 2024. He succeeded Jonathan Akeroyd, who stepped down by mutual agreement.

What is Joshua Schulman known for?

Schulman is known for leading luxury and premium brands including Jimmy Choo, Bergdorf Goodman and Coach. He also served briefly as CEO of Michael Kors from 2021 to 2022 before joining Burberry.

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