Claire Chambers is exiting.
The founder and chief executive officer of Journelle, a New York-based lingerie retailer, is vacating the brand.
Starting on Nov. 1, existing members of the senior management team will take on Chambers’ role and Lyn Lewis, Journelle’s director of operations and stores, will lead the business.
“Over the last eight years, my team and I have built Journelle into the leading retailer of luxury lingerie in the United States. I’m proud to hand the reins to a talented team, and confident in their and the company’s ability to thrive in the exciting period of growth that lies ahead,” Chambers stated in a release. She wasn’t available for comment.
Chambers started Journelle in 2007 when she opened its first New York City store in Union Square. She went on to open locations in SoHo and the Upper East Side.
In January 2013, Triumph International, the $2.1 billion innerwear company that owns several brands including Triumph, Sloggi and Valisère, acquired a majority stake in Journelle. Triumph, a lingerie brand that’s popular in Europe, is working on building its brand awareness in the U.S. market.
Post-acquisition, Chambers told WWD that Journelle was set to expand its retail presence with two stores in the Tristate area and an additional four units in 2014. Those plans never materialized, but according to Allison Beale, Journelle’s brand and marketing director, retail plans are in the works.
“We’re beginning a new wave of store expansion in key markets, starting with Chicago in November, as well as continuing to focus on expanding our thriving e-commerce business and building the Journelle Collection, which launched in August,” Beale said.