A Spade is No Longer a Spade

Deborah Lloyd, formerly executive vp, product design and development, for the Banana Republic division of Gap Inc. (San Francisco), has joined Liz Claiborne Inc. (New York) as co-president and creative director of its Kate Spade division.

Claiborne has announced plans to expand the handbag brand to additional product categories — including, eventually, apparel — and more than triple its sales over the next three years.

Lloyd has been head of Banana Republic's product development since 2001. Before that, she was vp of women's design for Burberry Group plc (London).

“If I were running the brand in the old Liz structure, then maybe my first move would be to hire a handbag designer,” Claiborne ceo William McComb told Women’s Wear Daily. “But I'm the guy from Johnson & Johnson now at Liz — I don't niche people at all. What excited me about Deborah is how she goes about tackling a problem: She comes up with a brand vision, then she thinks about merchandising strategy, then it's all about irresistible product execution.”

Effective November 1, Lloyd will replace Spade, who is stepping down from her role as designer. Her husband, Andy, will be stepping down as ceo after the expiration of the couple's service agreement with Claiborne. However, the Spades will remain on the Spade advisory board, along with Lloyd, her as-yet-unnamed co-president, McComb and Jill Granoff, executive vp of Claiborne's direct-to-consumer division. The company said is searching for a co-president with an emphasis on retail and merchandising. Lloyd will report to McComb and be based in New York.

Claiborne acquired the Kate Spade brand in November 2006. It is one of the four direct brands — along with Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand Jeans and Mexx — on which the company is focusing its attention and funds.