Gymshark poaches former Lacoste executive as first supply chain boss

Madelaine joins the sportswear brand from Lacoste, where he worked for five years, most recently as executive vice-president of operations. He has also previously held roles Sears, Tesco and Carrefour.

In his new role, Madelaine is responsible for “the smooth running of Gymshark’s sourcing, supply chain and logistics”, as well as overseeing the retailer’s quality control processes and sustainability strategy.

Reporting to founder and chief executive Ben Francis, Madelaine joins other new senior team additions including former Asos chief operating officer Mat Dunn who is chief financial officer and Carly O’Brien who is vice-president of marketing.

Madelaine said: “I’ve long been an admirer of Gymshark and what Ben and the team have built in such a short space of time. As soon as I met Ben, I was immediately impressed by the combination of humility and ambition. 

“The parallels between my and Gymshark’s passion for community were instantly evident. I’m incredibly excited to play my part in making Gymshark the most iconic British brand on the planet.”

Francis added: “We’re committed to creating the best possible product but it absolutely has to be sourced from the right place. 

“Laurent is the perfect person to become our first-ever chief supply chain officer. His sourcing experience, which has taken him all over the world, combined with the importance he places on community makes him an incredible addition to the team.

“His expertise within both retail and fashion will bring an invaluable new layer to our supply chain. I can’t wait to see what he brings.”

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