Events & AwardsApr 18, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsFeb 21, 2020
Longtime Retail CEO Les Wexner to Step Down
Les Wexner, CEO of L Brands, will depart once the company closes a deal to sell its Victoria’s Secret brand.
A Victoria’s Secret store in New York City. L Brands, the lingerie brand’s parent company, has sold a controlling stake in the retailer to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/WestportWiki)
Columbus, Ohio—Fashion retailer L Brands Inc. announced Thursday that founder and longtime CEO Les Wexner will step down as it sells a controlling stake in Victoria’s Secret.
One of the company’s flagship brands, the lingerie and beauty retailer is being sold to private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at $525 million, a move that will take the now-publicly traded company private.
Sycamore will hold a 55 percent majority interest in Victoria’s Secret’s lingerie and beauty brands and its teen-focused Pink line with L Brands retaining the remaining 45 percent.
The deal puts the retailer’s valuation at $1.1 billion.
L Brands will shift its focus to its Bath & Body Works brand, which it said represented the “vast majority” of its 2019 consolidated operating income.
The Victoria’s Secret brand has struggled in recent years as online lingerie brands like AdoreMe and ThirdLove gained popularity with more inclusive marketing and extended size ranges.
Ed Razek, the brand’s former chief marketing officer, came under fire following a 2018 interview with Vogue in which he said that “no one had any interest” in plus-size models and that the brand’s annual fashion show would not include transgender models because “the show is a fantasy.”
He issued a public apology for his “insensitive comments” and stepped down the following year.
Its televised fashion show, which began in 2001, was cancelled last year as the number of viewers dwindled.
According to the L Brands announcement, Wexner will step down when the deal is completed but remain on the board as chairman emeritus.
Wexner was the longest-tenured CEO of the S&P 500 companies, having served as head of L Brands for 57 years, as per a Business Insider report. That title will soon be held by Warren Buffet, who has led Berkshire Hathaway for 50 years.
Wexner’s departure comes at a time of financial turmoil for Victoria’s Secret.
The brand has faced public scrutiny for its failure to evolve with changing tastes in product and marketing, which was reflected in a rough holiday season.
Sales at its physical stores were down 8 percent year-over-year compared with flat sales in the previous holiday season. Same-store sales for both the in-store and online channels slipped 1 percent compared with a 4 percent increase a year ago.
Compounding Victoria Secret’s struggling performance was Wexner’s connection to a high-profile scandal.
Wexner joins a number of notable figures, including Britain’s Prince Andrew, who have stepped down from public
roles in the wake of their connection to late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Epstein was a trustee of the Wexner Foundation with power-of-attorney privileges. In a letter to the foundation last year, Wexner revealed that Epstein misappropriated more than $46 million in funds.
Stepping into Wexner’s role will be Andrew Meslow, chief operating officer of Bath & Body Works. He will take the reins and join L Brand’s board when the transaction closes.
In the meantime, Meslow has been promoted to CEO of Bath & Body Works.
Current Bath & Body Works CEO Nick Coe has been named vice chairman of brand strategy and new ventures at the bath products retailer.
The company will also make changes to its board, replacing three directors, including the lead independent director.
The deal will give L Brands a chance to reduce its debt using the funds as well as its $500 million in excess balance sheet cash.
Epstein was a trustee of the Wexner Foundation with power-of-attorney privileges. In a letter to the foundation last year, Wexner revealed that Epstein misappropriated more than $46 million in funds.
Stepping into Wexner’s role will be Andrew Meslow, chief operating officer of Bath & Body Works. He will take the reins and join L Brand’s board when the transaction closes.
In the meantime, Meslow has been promoted to CEO of Bath & Body Works.
Current Bath & Body Works CEO Nick Coe has been named vice chairman of brand strategy and new ventures at the bath products retailer.
The company will also make changes to its board, replacing three directors, including the lead independent director.
The deal will give L Brands a chance to reduce its debt using the funds as well as its $500 million in excess balance sheet cash.
More on Majors
The Latest
CollectionsApr 18, 2025
Piece of the Week: Dukachi’s ‘Easter Bread’ PendantThe Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.
IndependentsApr 18, 2025
Bremer Jewelry to Reveal Renovated StoreThe jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.
CollectionsApr 17, 2025
John Hardy, Athena Calderone Partner on Art Deco Decor-Inspired CollectionInterior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.
Weekly QuizApr 18, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsApr 17, 2025
Movado Group to Increase Prices to Offset Tariffs ImpactDuring a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
Lab-GrownApr 17, 2025
NDC Launches Its Diamond Learning CenterThe free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Policies & IssuesApr 17, 2025
Jewelers of America Requests Tariffs Testimonials from MembersThe feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.
TechnologyApr 17, 2025
Technology Therapy Group Expands AI Training for Jewelry RetailersThe online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Catbird Expands to ChicagoThe opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.
CollectionsApr 16, 2025
Foundrae’s First Commitment Jewelry Collection Unites Through LoveThe “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Indiana Jeweler to Host Black Jewelry Designer Pop-UpRobert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Tariffs: What We Know Right Now Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Making Deals, Marketing DiamondsKenewendo, Botswana’s minster of minerals and energy, discusses closing the deal with De Beers and the work that was missed along the way.
AuctionsApr 15, 2025
23-Carat ‘Golconda Blue’ Heads to AuctionThe historic fancy vivid blue diamond set to headline Christie’s Geneva sale next month could sell for up to $50 million.
FinancialsApr 15, 2025
LVMH’s Q1 Sales Slip 2 PercentLVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis also discussed the effects of tariffs so far.
CrimeApr 15, 2025
Jon Hamm Plays a Jewel Thief on Apple TV+The “Mad Men” and “The Morning Show” star steals jewelry, art, and handbags from his wealthy neighbors in “Your Friends & Neighbors.”
SourcingApr 15, 2025
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2025 BoardThe organization has reelected Kalpesh Jhaveri as president.
FinancialsApr 14, 2025
Movado to Restate Years of Financials Due to ‘Misconduct’ in Dubai An investigation found that the former managing director of Movado’s Dubai branch overstated and prematurely recorded sales.
CollectionsApr 14, 2025
Sauer Embraces Emptiness Through ‘Ma’ CollectionThe collection pays tribute to the Japanese philosophy of Ma, studying balance, stillness, and the interplay between presence and absence.
IndependentsApr 14, 2025
Illinois Jeweler Closing After 45 YearsMari Lou’s Fine Jewelry in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, is closing its doors.
GradingApr 14, 2025
GIA Expands Overseas Services as Tariffs Kick InGIA’s labs in Dubai and Hong Kong are now accepting larger diamonds in light of the “logistical challenges” presented by the new tariffs.
AuctionsApr 11, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Replica of Princess Grace’s Wedding EarringsThese earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring the same design as a pair worn by Princess Grace, are up for auction at Woolley & Wallis.
Recorded WebinarsApr 11, 2025
Watch: Top Tips for Saving Time With AITwo experts share how artificial intelligence tools can help retailers run a more efficient business.
SourcingApr 11, 2025
Mikimoto Names New President, CEO for U.S. DivisionKentaro Nishimura, who has been with the pearl company since 1997, has been promoted to president and CEO of Mikimoto America.
WatchesApr 11, 2025
Bulova Documentary Now on Amazon Prime“America Telling Time: 150 Years of Bulova” explores the storied history of the American watchmaker.
