As Managing Director, Dr. Lesley Anne Bleakney will take over the “Talent & Culture” division at the Avantgarde Group from June 1. Previously, the doctor of cultural studies was responsible for the Central and Northern Europe region as Human Resource Director at the global premium brand Lacoste.
Munich, June 1st, 2022 – Dr. Lesley Anne Bleakney (39) will be Managing Director of the Avantgarde Group from June 1, 2022. With a doctorate in cultural studies and a focus on leadership empowerment, employer branding, cultural identity and new work, she will take over the Talent & Culture division as Chief People Officer (CPO).
Dr. Lesley Anne Bleakney brings with her more than ten years of experience in the field of human resources. Most recently, the German-American was HR Director Central and Northern Europe at the fashion company Lacoste, with full responsibility for more than 500 employees in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
Following her studies in philosophy and cultural studies at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Lesley Anne Bleakney completed her doctorate at the University of Witten/Herdecke and Emory University, Atlanta, USA. As a certified Leadership Circle Coach, her special interest is in leadership development.
“Interdisciplinary teams, a collaborative leadership style and a creative mindset are cornerstones of Avantgarde’s global success. I am excited by the task of supporting such an agile company in terms of HR strategy,” says Dr. Lesley Anne Bleakney, explaining her move. “We currently have 850 Avantgardians working on the Experience Economy across our 12 locations worldwide. I am very pleased that we were able to convince Lesley to become part of the Avantgarde Group and to accept our ambitious growth targets as a task,” comments Dr. Marc Schumacher, Co-CEO of Avantgarde.