Edmundo Castillo plans to bolster sales and expand his namesake line, and has named Blanche Napoleon president of global sales, effective immediately.
Napoleon will be responsible for overseeing management, sales and marketing, merchandising and product development.
Castillo projects sales to grow by 40 percent in 2013 and, along with Napoleon, is looking to increase business within existing accounts and open new channels of wholesale distribution through additional department and specialty stores and e-commerce (domestically and internationally).
The brand will incorporate new classifications and styles that target a different consumer — the casual lifestyle customer — whose wardrobe consists of flatter silhouettes and modern, midheeled shoes. Castillo is also looking to expand its espadrille range, which has been one of the most successful categories for the company.
In previous roles, Napoleon has worked for brands such as Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Perry Ellis, Kenneth Cole and Via Spiga (of which Castillo was named creative director in September 2011). Most recently, Napoleon served as the U.S. and Canada sales director at Rene Caovilla.