Angela Ahrendts Success Story

She obtained an undergraduate degree in ‘Merchandising and Marketing’ from the Ball State University, Indiana, and received an ‘Honorary Doctorate in Human Letters’ from Ball State in the year 2010. 

Early Career

Angela Ahrendts’ career in the fashion industry started when she moved to New York. She initially merchandised at bra-maker Warnaco In the year 1989, Angela joined Donna Karan International. She was involved in developing and promoting the brand in the international market. She has been associated with several products and brands.

She was employed to promote the Bendel Stores and create 50 new markets for it. Her career saw a new high, when Angela was appointed as Vice President, Corporate Merchandising and Design at Fifth & Pacific Companies.

Success was sweet on her and within a few years, she became Senior Vice President Corporate Merchandising and Group President. Her share of responsibilities comprised merchandising of the Group’s brands. In the year 2002, she became the Executive Vice-President of the Company.   

Highlights

Ahrendts career touched a new high when she joined the prestigious brand, Burberry in January 2006. Within six months from joining, Angela was made the CEO. Her dynamic personality gave Burberry a new lease of life, and business picked up. Ahrendts has her unique style and rather than following set patterns, Angela creates her own designs.

 The Company did well under her headship. Angela’s journey with Burberry came to an end when she quit Burberry to join Apple Inc, as Senior Vice-President of Retail and Online Stores on May 1, 2014.

Personal Life

Angela is married to Gregg Couch. The couple had a 17-year long distance courtship, before they tied the knot. They are blessed with three children. Angela was brought up as a Methodist and is an active Christian.

Recognitions

Angela Ahrendts has an impressive list of awards and recognitions to her credit. She has featured 25th in Forbes' 2015 list of the ‘most powerful women in the world’. Angela is rated as the 9^th ‘most powerful woman in U.K’ by Woman’s Hour on BBC. She featured in the 29^th position among the ‘world's most powerful women in business’ 2014 list compiled by Fortune.

Angela was awarded Crain’s New York Rising Stars 40 under 40. She has won the Outstanding Leadership Award at Oracle World Retail Awards. Angela was honoured the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a DBE for services to British business. Angela is associated with UK’s Premier’s business advisory council. 

Angela Ahrendts Speaking At Executive Marketing Summit Session