66°North appointed Josefine Laigaard as strategy and business development director, effective immediately. The company said her hire is part of its “continued ramp-up of expansion to become the first truly global Icelandic brand.”
Laigaard will play an integral role in the company’s expansion plans, working in the brand’s new satellite head office in Copenhagen, Denmark, and working closely with the company’s HQ in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Laigaard reportedly has vast strategic and commercial expertise in the fashion industry. Most recently, she was the CEO of the cult Danish luxury brand Saks Potts. Previously, she was head of business development at Ganni.
Laigaard began her career as a fashion designer, but the company said she was “always occupied with building and scaling brands internationally, hence her transition into management consulting at Ernst & Young before re-joining the fashion industry.”
Due to her ambidextrous profile, Laigaard was honored as one of the Top 100 Business Talents in Denmark in 2021 and, in 2023, was elected as a Young Female Board Talent by Board Talent Denmark.
The news of Laigaard’s hire follows Jeppe Møller’s appointment as chief commercial officer in December and further leadership hires within the company’s wholesale team.
“I am very excited for Josefine to join the 66°North team as our global business development director,” commented Møller. “She brings with her valuable international experience and strategic capabilities, which is essential for the next phase of our global expansion.”
66°North opened its European flagship store on Regent Street in London in November 2022 and now boasts 28 wholesale stockists globally, including Selfridges, Harrods, END, Mr.Porter, KaDeWe, SSENSE, SneakersNStuff, and Beaker.
Kei Toyoshima was appointed creative director at the brand’s helm at the end of 2023 and will present his debut collection for AW24.
Images courtesy 66°North
