Custom Menswear Clothier J.Hilburn Names Stein Ove Fenne as New CEO

J.Hilburn, a leading custom-made menswear brand, announced today that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dave DeFeo is retiring but will remain a Board Member and advisor to the Management Team. Stein Ove Fenne will succeed DeFeo as the new CEO, effective July 14, 2022.

Stein Ove FenneUsed Courtesy of: J. Hilburn

DeFeo was appointed as CEO in 2019, overseeing J.Hilburn's strategic vision, leading the company through the pandemic and returning the company to increased sales and profitable growth. Taking his place will be Fenne, a direct sales veteran with more than 25 years of experience in leading global businesses with a wealth of direct sales experience.

During his time as CEO, DeFeo led the company to success as it embraced the use of technology and various other client-facing tools. These enabled stylists to work with their clients virtually using a state-of-the-art fitting technology app on their phones, a 3D garment configuration tool, visual closets and virtual calls -- paving a new way for clients to purchase custom clothing through meeting with their personal stylists either virtually or in person, whichever they preferred. Under DeFeo's leadership, the brand also expanded its range of custom casual clothing to fit the new hybrid work model that was adopted universally as a result of the pandemic.

A golf look from the J.Hilburn Spring 2022 Collection, featuring shirting by RattiUsed Courtesy of: J. Hilburn

“I want to thank DeFeo for the tremendous work he has done to take J.Hilburn through the pandemic and transform the company into a healthy and growing one," said Roger Lee, Chairman of J. Hilburn. "I am sad to see DeFeo take a back seat in J.Hilburn’s future but glad he will be staying on as a Board Member and Advisor. We have been very fortunate to find Fenne during our search and are very confident that Fenne will drive our growth strategy and take the company to the next level.”

A suiting look from the J.Hilburn Spring 2022 Collection, featuring cloth by Reda 1865Used Courtesy of: J. Hilburn

Fenne served at Tupperware for 17 years before joining J.Hilburn. He was the Managing Director for the Northern Europe sector from 2007 to 2011, where he led the northern European business portfolio spanning 10 countries and successfully turned a four-year revenue decline. Most recently, Fenne was President of Yes You Can, a healthy lifestyle system established in 2012 by Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, Alejandro Chaban -- the popular international New York Times Best Seller widely recognized as a voice of health and wellness.

Commenting on his new position at J.Hilburn, Fenne said, "I am extremely thankful and honored to be J.Hilburn’s new CEO and [to] be [a] part of an amazing and successful company. I have been impressed by the quality of our stylists, product, and the strength of our client relationships that I see so much potential in. With this, I am confident that J.Hilburn will continue to be the world's leading custom-made menswear brand."