Natalie Massenet, Net-A-Porter Founder, Leaves Company

Natalie Massenet, the famed founder of luxury e-commerce giant Net-A-Porter, has left the company, in a shock move that has the fashion world a little bit shocked and a lot intrigued.

As well as the founder Massenet was executive chairman of the company. She resigned yesterday, on the eve of the Net-A-Porter’s acquisition by Italian company Yoox. The initial plan for the merger, according to website The Fashion Law, was for Massenet to remain in her role as executive chairman and to oversee editorial output for the powerful online store. The Fashion Law reports on the rumours Massener Yoox’s head, Federico Marchetti, did not have the most pleasant of working relationships. The two groups had come close to a merger before, but talks collapse last year, before the corporate coming-together earlier this year.

Massenet has already released a statement on her sudden-to-the-public resignation, citing the occasion of the merger as ?the right time for me to move on to explore new ideas and opportunities.” Massenet started Net-A-Porter in 2000 and has overseen its strong growth through a changing digital landscape and rocky recession. She says that Net-A-Porter’s partnership with the Yoox Group will leave the company in a ?bigger, stronger and superbly well positioned? position. She also found time to compliment Federico Marchetti’s leadership. Very polite.

We have to admit, while our inner gossips want to know what’s happening between the corporate speak lines, we’re actually more interested in what Massenet will do next. After fifteen years knowing the luxury market like the back of her hand, Massenet has the type of experience that would make a major brand drool. First stop though, we imagine, is a major holiday. With an estimated net worth of $170, the woman can afford a few weeks plotting time.

Via The Fashion Law?