Pringle of Scotland saviour tipped for house of Versace

Published on Sunday 24 May 2009 21:50

KIM Winser, the Scots-born clothing executive who turned around the fortunes of fashion firm Pringle of Scotland, is being tipped to become the chief executive of Italian design house Gianni Versace.

Winser last week stepped down from Aquascutum after a management buyout collapsed. The 158-year-old fashion brand is now reported to be in the sights of Chinese company YGM Trading.

The Versace board is expected to meet today to discuss the departure of current chief executive Giancarlo Di Risio, but it is understood that the fashion house's approach to Winser is in very early stages.

Winser had been working on a rival bid for Aquascutum – where she had been chief executive for around three years – for 12 months. The Helensburgh-born executive began her career at Marks & Spencer, where she is also being touted as a possible candidate to replace Stuart Rose when he retires in the next two years.

Aquascutum, which employs around 400 people in the UK and has an annual turnover of around 200 million, is currently owned by Japanese firm Renown, but the group has recently experienced some financial difficulties and is thought to have hoped to raise cash through the sale of Aquascutum.

Winser had set next year as her target for realising a profit at Aquascutum, which produced the first waterproof wool in 1853 and supplied coats for the officers fighting in the Crimean War.

It has since boasted an impressive client list, including former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and actors including Sean Connery and Cary Grant.

Winser was head of Pringle of Scotland for six years. The firm, which was established in the Borders in 1815, was bought out of cashmere group Dawson International in 2000 by Hong Kong-based SC Fang & Sons Company, which moved the company in a new direction, away from knitwear and towards luxury tailoring for a younger market.