Selfridges buying and merchandising director Sebastian Manes departs

Selfridges' long-standing buying & merchandising director Sebastian Manes is to leave the business at the end of the year.

Manes, who has been with Selfridges since 2004, will be moving to the US to join Chrome Hearts. He was a pivotal figures at the luxury department store helping to shape its buy and introducing innovative brand collaborations and features such as the Corner Shop in Oxford Street, which features a rotating line-up of shoppable experiences.

Manes' role will be overseen Selfridges & Co managing director Andrew Keith until a successor is found, WWD has reported.

Separately, Laura Weir, former editor of ES Magazine (the lifestyle and fashion supplement for London's Evening Standard) and former journalist at British Vogue and The Sunday Times, will join Selfridges as creative director in January.

The moves follow on from the sale of Selfridges Group by the Weston Family to Thai retail conglomerate Central Group and Signa Holding this summer. The deal included the group's 18 department stores, including Selfridges stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham, de Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, and Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland.

Former Selfridges Group managing director Anne Pitcher stood down from the business.