Another day, another chief commercial officer appointment. In a period that has seen plenty of commercial chiefs moving and companies adding the role to their executive teams for the first time, now Orla Kiely has made a big announcement.

The heritage Irish retail brand known for its mid-century designs, has announced the expansion of its senior leadership team with the appointment of Jalil Rahman as CCO.

Rahman joins Orla Kiely from Richemont Group, the luxury goods giant that owns Cartier, Chloé and Alaïa. While there he was director of business development — trade & corporate — spearheading the launch of a new start-up luxury brand. He has also held senior roles at Liberty across brand partnerships and licensing.

As CCO, he’ll focus on “driving strategic growth for Orla Kiely globally, expanding its customer base while maintaining the balance of art and commerce which is central to the brand”. 

His appointment follows a strong year of sales, boosted by Q4 sales figures that grew 13% compared to the same period in 2023.

The company said its move “demonstrates the strength of the brand in the evolving retail sector and shows its confidence in taking the brand to its next stage of strategic growth”.

Co-owner and MD Dermott Rowan added: “Bringing Jalil – with his years of experience working with heritage design and luxury brands — onto the team marks a new chapter for the business, as we continue to invest in our people and grow the business. We look forward to increasing our global reach as the brand continues to go from strength to strength.”