Sweaty Betty names new CEO as Simon Hill-Norton becomes chairman

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jun 18, 2019

Julia Straus has been promoted from managing director to chief executive of British sportswear label Sweaty Betty, taking over from Simon Hill-Norton who has become chairman.

Straus has been with the company since July last year. Prior to that, she led US beauty label Tula as chief executive officer, and held senior roles at fashion retailer retailer Baublebar and lifestyle media publisher Popsugar.

In her new role, she will drive the company’s expansion in Asia and focus on growing the online business, reported the Evening Standard on Tuesday. The London-based business specialising in women’s activewear sold one pair of its £75-£95 bum-sculpting leggings every minute in the first quarter of the year.

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Sweaty Betty, which has over 60 stores in the UK and the US, made revenues of almost £48 million in the year to December 2017 according to its latest available accounts. This was a 20.6% increase on the previous year, whilst pre-tax profits jumped by 160% to £1.3 million.

In 2017, the UK market accounted for 87% of the brand’s sales, while the US represented 11% of revenues and the rest of the world was just 2%.

The brand is led by creative chief Tamara Norton-Hill, who said she is looking forward to working with the new CEO to deliver the brand to new markets.