Floriane de Saint Pierre
Founder, Floriane de Saint-Pierre et Associés
The headhunter launched her own firm at 26 and has been responsible for some of fashion’s most important creative and executive hires.
Headhunter Floriane de Saint Pierre placed Christopher Bailey at Burberry, Alber Elbaz at Lanvin, Christophe Lemaire at Lacoste, Paul Andrew at Ferragamo and strategised Saint Laurent and Gucci creative directions for the past decade including Alessandro Michele ’s nomination. She is also the force behind many nominations of chief executives and C-suite positions.
“I consider who can capture the spirit of the brand with a holistic approach. When a designer feels the spirit of a brand and is also comprehensive with how people live today, then commercial success comes naturally.”
After ESSEC business school, de Saint Pierre began her career in the finance department at Christian Dior before moving into executive recruitment. But it didn’t take long — six weeks, approximately — for de Saint Pierre to strike out on her own, founding Floriane de Saint Pierre et Associés n 1990, aged 26. “I discovered executive search very much by chance and I was passionate about it from the beginning, so I started my own company as I wanted to have the freedom to do my work exactly as I wanted.”
Not one to rest on her laurels, de Saint Pierre’s has entered the digital forum with her latest venture, EyesonTalents.com, a global, web-based platform that connects brands with creative talent from visual arts: fashion and product design, photography and digital art.
De Saint Pierre is aware that head hunting the world’s most talented designers and top executives is a talent in itself, "I don't work with partners — we are an amazing team who share a deep curiosity for the times, for culture and for talent”
Passionate by contemporary visual arts, she is a Founding Member of the Palais de Tokyo Art Club Entreprises, a Member of the Groupe d’Acquisition de la Photographie of the Centre Pompidou and leads the Benefactor Committee of Aware, Archives of Women Artists Research and Exhibitions. Her collections of contemporary art and photography focus on women artists.
Career History
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Addressing Fashion’s Workplace Gender Gap
In the second of a three-part BoF Careers white paper series, we explore how gender discrimination impacts employees’ experience in the fashion workplace, based on the results of BoF's Fashion Employee Survey 2019.
Addressing Fashion’s Workplace Gender Gap
In the second of a three-part BoF Careers white paper series, we explore how gender discrimination impacts employees’ experience in the fashion workplace, based on the results of BoF's Fashion Employee Survey 2019.
CEOs, Not Designers, Are Fashion’s New Stars
Business-side executives are becoming brand ambassadors, sometimes surpassing their creative counterparts in public profile.
CEOs, Not Designers, Are Fashion’s New Stars
Business-side executives are becoming brand ambassadors, sometimes surpassing their creative counterparts in public profile.
How to Get the Most out of Your Fashion Education
BoF’s new Education Council of global fashion industry experts offer their advice to prospective students.
How to Get the Most out of Your Fashion Education
BoF’s new Education Council of global fashion industry experts offer their advice to prospective students.
The Best Fashion Schools in the World 2019
BoF’s selection of the world’s best fashion schools employs a new approach which does away with numerical rankings and focuses instead on helping students assess which programmes will best prepare them for their chosen career in fashion.
The Best Fashion Schools in the World 2019
BoF’s selection of the world’s best fashion schools employs a new approach which does away with numerical rankings and focuses instead on helping students assess which programmes will best prepare them for their chosen career in fashion.
Succession Planning: What Works, What Doesn't
The death of Karl Lagerfeld has put a spotlight on succession planning quandaries at major brands, from Ralph Lauren to Giorgio Armani. What can the industry learn from the successes and stumbles of the past?
Succession Planning: What Works, What Doesn't
The death of Karl Lagerfeld has put a spotlight on succession planning quandaries at major brands, from Ralph Lauren to Giorgio Armani. What can the industry learn from the successes and stumbles of the past?
Bottega Veneta Names Daniel Lee New Creative Director
The British designer, who was most recently director of ready-to-wear at Céline, begins July 1.
Bottega Veneta Names Daniel Lee New Creative Director
The British designer, who was most recently director of ready-to-wear at Céline, begins July 1.
What Makes a Great Fashion CEO?
In times of turbulent change, leaders must balance quantitative and qualitative strategies with a sharp understanding of the consumer and a knack for nailing risks.
What Makes a Great Fashion CEO?
In times of turbulent change, leaders must balance quantitative and qualitative strategies with a sharp understanding of the consumer and a knack for nailing risks.
Meet the Unsung Heroes of the World’s Biggest Fashion Houses
Fashion has long perpetuated a single creator myth, but behind every great designer is a team of designers, some of them powerhouses in their own right.
Meet the Unsung Heroes of the World’s Biggest Fashion Houses
Fashion has long perpetuated a single creator myth, but behind every great designer is a team of designers, some of them powerhouses in their own right.
A Woman's Work: How Women Can Get Ahead in Fashion
Women are, by far, the primary consumers of fashion, but remain underrepresented in top creative positions. On International Women’s Day, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Tory Burch, Julie de Libran and more weigh in.
A Woman's Work: How Women Can Get Ahead in Fashion
Women are, by far, the primary consumers of fashion, but remain underrepresented in top creative positions. On International Women’s Day, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Tory Burch, Julie de Libran and more weigh in.
The Decline of the Liberal West Poses Major Threat to Fashion
A turn away from the liberalism that has underpinned political and economic policy in the US and Europe for over 50 years has serious consequences for the global fashion industry.
The Decline of the Liberal West Poses Major Threat to Fashion
A turn away from the liberalism that has underpinned political and economic policy in the US and Europe for over 50 years has serious consequences for the global fashion industry.
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
