Maximilian Bittner
Former chief executive of Vestiaire Collective
Maximilian Bittner is a German e-commerce entrepreneur who led the luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective as chief executive from January 2019 to September 2025. He previously founded and ran Lazada, the Southeast Asian e-commerce group, and is one of the executives most associated with the growth of second hand luxury online.
| Role | Former chief executive of Vestiaire Collective |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Vestiaire Collective |
| Chief executive | January 2019 to September 2025 |
| Successor | Bernard Osta |
| Earlier | Founder and chief executive of Lazada |
Who is Maximilian Bittner?
Maximilian Bittner is the former chief executive of Vestiaire Collective, the online marketplace for pre owned luxury and designer fashion. He took over from co-founder Sébastien Fabre on 1 January 2019 and stepped down in September 2025, when chief financial officer Bernard Osta was promoted to the top role. Before Vestiaire he built Lazada into one of Southeast Asia's leading e-commerce platforms.
Career
Bittner's background combines finance, consulting and venture building:
- Morgan Stanley: investment banking division in London
- McKinsey and Rocket Internet: roles in consulting and at the German internet company builder
- Lazada Group: founder and chief executive until March 2018, covering Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
- January 2019 to September 2025: chief executive of Vestiaire Collective
When Vestiaire announced his appointment it highlighted his experience and knowledge of Asian markets. Fabre remained a director and continued to play a role in defining the company's strategy.
Influence on the fashion business
Bittner's tenure coincided with the rise of resale from a niche to a mainstream part of the luxury market. Vestiaire Collective attracted investment from the luxury group Kering, SoftBank, Tiger Global and Condé Nast among others, and obtained B Corp certification in 2021. Under his leadership the company focused on expanding its presence in the United States, a strategy that made it a direct competitor to American resale platforms.
Vestiaire's growth also made it a reference point in debates about circular fashion, as luxury brands began to consider how resale could extend product life and bring new customers to their labels. The company's board credited Bittner with a significant role in its development when he stepped down.
Maximilian Bittner and technology
Bittner is a platform builder by background. At Lazada he led a multi country online marketplace in Southeast Asia, and at Vestiaire Collective he ran a technology driven peer to peer marketplace that depends on listing, pricing, authentication workflows and logistics across many countries.
Why it matters
Maximilian Bittner brought large scale e-commerce experience to luxury resale at the moment the sector moved into the mainstream. His six years at Vestiaire Collective helped turn second hand designer fashion into a recognised channel that luxury brands, investors and regulators now take seriously.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Maximilian Bittner?
Maximilian Bittner is a German e-commerce executive who was chief executive of Vestiaire Collective from January 2019 to September 2025. He previously founded and led Lazada in Southeast Asia.
Who replaced Maximilian Bittner at Vestiaire Collective?
Bernard Osta, the company's chief financial officer and former chief strategy officer, succeeded Bittner as chief executive in autumn 2025.