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Fifteen years after launching Australian Fashion Week - and five years after selling it to IMG - IMG FASHION Asia Pacific managing director Simon Lock will not be renewing his contract according to a just-issued IMG release (below). This is interesting for a number of reasons, which frockwriter doesn't have the time to get into right now. But it's well worth noting that this is the third - and obviously most high profile - senior staff member to depart the event in less than a year after senior PR Cat Rodwell and international marketing manager Jodi Pritchard.
Thursday 11 February 2010, Sydney: IMG Fashion announced today that Simon Lock, Managing Director of IMG Fashion for the Asia Pacific region, will not renew his contract and will be departing the company in late 2010.
Peter Levy, IMG Fashion’s Senior Vice President and Global Managing Director, based in New York, said, “We have been grateful for Simon’s energy and enthusiasm. He has, together with our team in Australia and around the world, made an imprint on our group and on the successful events we have produced in the region over the past few years”.
This year is the milestone 15th year of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW), which was founded by Simon in 1996 and was acquired by IMG Fashion in 2005.
“We’d like to thank Simon for his contributions and his relentless passion for promoting Australian designers”, said Martin Jolly, Managing Director of IMG, Asia Pacific. “On behalf of everyone at IMG we look forward to seeing many more professional accomplishments from Simon in the future”.
Simon Lock said, “I am extremely proud of what RAFW has been able to achieve for the Australian fashion industry over the past fifteen years. It is testament to an amazing group of people who have dedicated, in some instances, much of their careers to this important endeavor. With RAFW now part of the global network of fashion weeks managed by IMG Fashion it could not be in better hands for its future growth and development. I look forward to celebrating the 15th year anniversary in May with my IMG and industry colleagues".
IMG Fashion’s team structure in the Asia Pacific region will remain the same. Simon Lock, Peter Levy and Martin Jolly will all attend RAFW this season.
2 comments:
Funny, really. Always thought of AFW as Lock's other child - it'll be hard to imagine it without his well-dressed form and bald head moving around the groups come May.
Obvious questions is if he was pushed - my money's on him moving on (mostly) of his own accord...
Australian fashion definitely seems to be moving on at the moment. It is sad to see him leave but he did a great job.
And there is that book of Australian fashion designers coming out this year, which seems timely. We should celebrate our fashion more.
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