Tamara Mellon quits Jimmy Choo

Tamara Mellon has quit Jimmy Choo.

The entrepreneur – who founded the footwear and accessories brand in 1996 along with former cobbler Jimmy Choo – has stepped down as Chief Creative Officer of the company following its takeover and integration with private Italian luxury goods group Labelux.

The 44-year-old entrepreneur – who ceased to have any financial interest in the group after its $800 million acquisition in May – is set to be followed out of the company by current Chief Executive Joshua Schulman, who will complete a transition phase into 2012.

Labelux’s chief executive Reinhard Mieck is quoted as telling the Financial Times newspaper: “Jimmy Choo is an outstanding brand with enormous growth potential and the ability to deliver material growth synergies across our group.

“With a successful transition behind them, we respect their wish to move on to other challenges.”

Since Tamara and Jimmy set up the business it has grown from being a small company to a global brand, which sells handbags, scarves and fragrances, among other luxury items.

Earlier this year, Tamara – who was awarded an OBE in 2010 for her services to Britain’s fashion industry – explained she is “extremely proud” of the company’s heritage and put the success of the group down to its constant flow of “innovation and energy”.

She said: “Keeping innovation and energy flowing is key. I dreamed of creating the perfect luxury accessory house, one that captures the hearts of women around the world.

“Even now with everything that we have accomplished we are far from resting on our laurels, what excites me most is the thrill of the next project, the next idea.

“While I am enormously proud of our brand’s heritage, I know the best is yet to come.”