Dive Brief:
- In a planned transition, luggage brand Away appointed Jessica Schinazi as CEO, according to a May 12 press release shared with Retail Dive.
- Co-founder and former CEO Jen Rubio will continue to guide the company’s long-term vision as executive chair of the board, per the release.
- Schinazi joined Away as president in late 2024 after serving as president of the Americas at Dyson before that. Away did not immediately respond to Retail Dive’s inquiry about backfilling the president position.
Dive Insight:
Schinazi takes the top spot at Away as the company eyes growth beyond its roots.
“This transition is a natural next step for Away,” Rubio said in a statement. “Jessica is the right leader for this moment—bringing fresh energy, bold ideas, and the operational focus to lead us into our next chapter. What began as a dream in 2015 is now a global brand, and yet the opportunity ahead feels even greater.”
Schinazi will “lead Away into its next era,” per the release, with a focus on scaling the brand through a focus on innovation and deepening customer connection. She also brings previous experience from Amazon, LVMH and Richemont. Away’s former president was Catherine Dunleavy, who took on the role in November 2022 and left to work at haircare brand Olaplex in August 2024.
Rubio had served as the CEO since 2021 following a tumultuous turnover in the top spot.
Away co-founder Steph Korey (who now runs a children’s development brand named Charmspring) served as CEO until October 2020, initially stepping down from the role in 2019 after reports of toxic work culture. The brand had nominated Stuart Haselden to take over in January 2020, but then Haselden and Korey operated as co-CEOs for a time until Korey officially stepped down. Haselden then served as the CEO for about four months before leaving for Arc’teryx, with Rubio stepping into the position.
Away’s latest leadership shift comes as the brand expands further from its direct-to-consumer traditions. The luggage brand began selling on Amazon for the first time this year and debuted with its first retail partner, Nordstrom, in May. Away previously sold select products in nine pop-ups with Nordstrom in 2019.
The brand, known for its hardshell suitcases, expanded its offerings in July 2024 with the release of a soft-sided luggage collection. Looking at growth beyond hardshell cases, Away said in its press release that its bag offerings grew 16% year-over-year in 2024. Additionally, as many companies reevaluate pricing strategies due to changing tariff rates, Away in April announced on Instagram that it would not be changing its prices for now.