Axel Arigato CEO Albin Johansson Exits
Axel Arigato Names New CEO as Co-Founder Albin Johansson Steps Down
Axel Arigato cofounder Albin Johansson is stepping back from his role as chief executive officer.
The executive, who launched the sneaker brand in 2014 with Max Svärdh, will remain on the company's board as chairman. The move comes a year and a half after Svärdh stepped back from day-to-day involvement in the business.
In a statement on Wednesday, Johansson said he is "incredibly excited" for his new step forward in his ongoing journey with Axel Arigato.
"After more than a decade of building the brand, I'm proud to operate as chairman of the board, allowing me to focus on the long-term future of the brand, while ensuring its values, culture, and creative integrity remain intact," the executive noted.
In Johansson's place, longtime Adidas executive Frédéric Serrant will assume the top job on Feb. 3. Serrant took to LinkedIn to announce the news on Monday.
"I am genuinely impressed by the remarkable work that has been accomplished so far to build Axel Arigato into such a strong, distinctive, and inspiring brand," Serrant wrote on LinkedIn. "It is a true reflection of the talent, passion and commitment of the teams - and I am convinced that the potential ahead for the brand is enormous. I am very much looking forward to joining the team, learning from them, and together writing the next chapters of Axel Arigato."
Serrant spent the last 16 years at Adidas, most recently as managing director of its APAC business. While at the German athletic company, he also held roles like senior vice president and general manager of SEA, vice president and general manager of Brazil and Chile, and sales director.
The company added further that this leadership evolution "combines founder-led vision with seasoned global leadership to shape the brand's next chapter."
The move follows a period of brand evolution and growth from Axel Arigato in the past few years. In 2024, the company opened its first store in the U.S. at 273 Lafayette Street in the SoHo neighborhood of New York.
At the time of the opening, Johansson told FN that he was dedicated to building the brand's presence in New York. "We have a vision of being truly established in the U.S., but we are laser-focused on New York right now," Johansson said in an interview at the time. "We are not interested in opening this store and moving on right away to a new city to open another store. We are taking our time to build our roots in the community with a steady series of events this month and throughout the rest of the year."
The same year saw Axel Arigato open its second store in London at 21-23 Earlham Street in the city's Covent Garden neighborhood. The new store marked a special moment for the brand as London is the place where Axel Arigato opened its very first store back in 2016.
The company also named Jens Werner as its new creative director in 2024. Werner, who joined the company in 2021 as head of ready-to-wear, succeeded Svärdh. Since assuming his new role, Werner has since gone on to develop new footwear silhouettes including the "Squish" sneaker and launched new collabs like the brand's recent tie-up with Brooklyn-based artist Alvin Armstrong.
Other recent milestones include Axel Arigato's expansion into the Middle East, marked by the opening of a new store in Dubai, with forthcoming locations in Abu Dhabi and Jeddah.
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