US casualwear brand J Crew boss Mickey Drexler has flown over from the states to host a breakfast meeting with UK landlords and agents this morning as he plots store openings in London.

Kicking off minutes ago, Drexler is understood to have organised the briefing at a West End hotel in London, and invited property owners and agents.

A J Crew spokeswoman called the event “very informal” but declined to give further details.

J Crew, a favourite of Michelle Obama, has been eyeing London sites for some time as it seeks to expand out of North America, where all its 238 stores are located.

The retailer plans to launch its first overseas presence in the autumn in department stores Hong Kong and Beijing.

J Crew notched up revenues of $2bn last year and already ships to 103 countries through its online offer.

The retailer hired property agent Harper Dennis Hobbs to seek out stores for it in the capital.