Christopher Bailey To Leave Burberry in 2018

The long-serving chief creative officer will exit the brand next March

Burberry’s long-serving chief creative officer Christopher Bailey is to step down next year, the brand has announced. Bailey has called it a “privilege” to work at the British fashion house over the last 17 years.

The 46-year-old will exit the brand on March 31, 2018 to pursue “new creative projects.”

“It has been the great privilege of my working life to be at Burberry, working alongside and learning from such an extraordinary group of people over the last 17 years. Burberry encapsulates so much of what is great about Britain,” Bailey said in a statement. “I do truly believe, however, that Burberry’s best days are still ahead of her and that the company will go from strength to strength with the strategy we have developed and the exceptional talent we have in place led by Marco.”

Bailey joined Burberry in 2001, becoming CEO and chief creative officer 10 years later. Earlier this year Marco Gobbetti took his place as CEO.

“While I am sad not to have the opportunity to partner with him for longer, the legacy he leaves and the exceptional talent we have at Burberry give me enormous confidence in our future,” said Gobbetti.