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CEO Updates: Build-A-Bear and St John Knits

Both retailers promote from within for top spot.

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2 minutes ago

March 12, 2026

VMSD Staff

CEO Updates: Build-A-Bear and St John Knits — A new CEO will take the reins at Build-A-Bear Workshop this June. Photo: wdstock/iStock by Getty Images

A new CEO will take the reins at Build-A-Bear Workshop this June. Photo: wdstock/iStock by Getty Images

* Build-A-Bear Workshop (St. Louis) announced that Chief Operations and Experience Officer Chris Hurt will succeed Sharon Price John as CEO, effective as of the retailer’s annual meeting on June 11. Price John, who is retiring, joined the retailer in 2013 as president and CEO, and is widely credited with leading a turnaround in the brand’s fortunes.

The company Hurt will lead currently has more than 650 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise experience locations across more than 30 countries. In the coming year, Build-A-Bear expects to open at least 50 stores. The company made that disclosure in reporting its financial results for the fiscal year ended Jan. 30.

* St John Knits, a unit of the Lanvin Group (Shanghai/Milan), has promoted Mandy West to CEO. West joined the luxury apparel brand in 2019, most recently serving as chief commercial officer. (She was part of an executive committee that had been running St John Knits since CEO Andy Lew was promoted to EVP at Lanvin last year.) Before joining that brand, West held management roles at Intermix, Nike and Tesla. The operation she now oversees includes 48 company-owned stores, including ones in New York, London, Beverly Hills, Dubai, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Related Topics:build-a-bear CEO Updates St John Knits

VMSD Staff

Drawing on more than 125 years of history serving the retail design market, VMSD magazine provides retail professionals with the most up-to-date, innovative retail design ideas and industry news through its industry-leading magazine, website, social media channels and bulletins.

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