Christopher Paul Bailey CBE is a British fashion designer who was president and chief creative officer of Burberry. He served as the president and chief creative officer of Burberry.
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Bailey initially took on the role of chief creative officer and president in May 2014, following the departure of Angela Ahrendts. However, he was succeeded as chief creative officer by Riccardo Tisci in February 2018.
Early Life, and Education
Christopher Paul Bailey CBE was born on May 11, 1971, in Halifax, United Kingdom. Christopher Bailey is 53 years old as of 2024. Bailey was born in Yorkshire, England, to a carpenter and a window dresser for Marks and Spencer.
He pursued higher education at the Royal College of Art, where he earned a master’s degree in 1994. The institution later honored him with an honorary fellowship in 2004 and an honorary doctorate in 2013.
Career, Personal Bests, and Medals
Bailey’s career began at Donna Karan as a womenswear designer from 1994 to 1996. He then moved to Milan to work as a senior designer at Gucci from 1996 to 2001. In May 2001, he joined Burberry as the design director, became creative director in 2004, and was appointed chief creative officer in November 2009.
In 2008, Bailey co-founded the Burberry Foundation with Angela Ahrendts. This foundation aims to support young people in realizing their creative potential through various charitable initiatives. The foundation focuses on communities where Burberry employees live and work, fostering volunteerism and engagement.
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Bailey’s impact on Burberry was profound. He played a key role in making the brand a digital leader in the luxury fashion industry and revitalized its design approach.
Notably, he was behind the creation of Burberry’s largest store at 121 Regent Street in London, which opened in 2012, and the Burberry Global Headquarters at Horseferry House, which opened in 2009.
In July 2016, Marco Gobbetti, CEO of Céline, was announced as the next CEO of Burberry, taking over from Bailey in November 2017. Bailey then became president while retaining his role as chief creative officer. He resigned from the board in March 2018 and left Burberry completely by December 2018.
Family, Personal Life, and Facts: Parents, Siblings, Wife/Girlfriend, Children, and Height
During his time in Milan, Bailey began a relationship with Geert Cloet, a brand designer for Miu Miu. The couple split their time between Milan and England. When Cloet was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2004, they moved to Yorkshire to be closer to Bailey’s family. Cloet passed away the following year.
Since 2009, Bailey has been in a relationship with British actor Simon Woods, and they married in 2012. They have two daughters, Iris and Nell. In May 2014, Bailey made history as the first openly gay executive among FTSE 100 companies.
Bailey remains active in mentoring emerging British creative talents from institutions like the Royal College of Art and the University of Huddersfield. Bailey stands tall at a height of 5 feet 11 inches.
Net Worth
Christopher Paul Bailey has an estimated net worth of £5 million.
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