Victoria's Secret is making a change at the top, naming Hillary Super from Savage X Fenty as its new chief executive.
Super will take over for Martin Waters, effective Sept. 9. Waters became CEO of Victoria's Secret in 2021. He will serve as an advisor through the end of the month to help with the transition process, while Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Timothy Johnson will serve as interim CEO.
Plans for a Victoria's Secret spinoff from its parent company L Brands were announced in 2021 after a deal to sell the lingerie, sleepwear, beauty and clothing company to private equity firm Sycamore Partners fell through because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The chain has struggled with slowing sales and has worked on reinventing its fashions and redesigning stores. Super had served as the Savage X Fenty CEO since June 2023. The lingerie company, which was co-founded by megastar and business mogul Rihanna, appeals to younger consumers and Super's expertise running the company could help Victoria's Secret cater to that prized demographic better.
Shares jumped more than 14% before the market open.
Prior to working at Savage X Fenty, Super was the Global CEO of Anthropologie Group, an Urban Outfitters Company.
Victoria's Secret Chair of the Board Donna James said in a statement on Wednesday that Super will be tasked with accelerating growth in the company's core business in North America.
“She understands vertically integrated retail brands and has an intuitive understanding of the consumer landscape, informed by customer insights which are critical for consistently delivering in this industry and its ever-accelerating fashion and economic cycles,” James said.
FILE - A Victoria's Secret store is seen in a shopping mall in Scranton, Pa., May 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, file)
Woody Johnson sensed his struggling New York Jets needed a change — and now.
So the owner made the stunning decision Tuesday to fire coach Robert Saleh just five games into his fourth season after the team's 2-3 start following a 23-17 loss to Minnesota in London on Sunday.
“This is one of the most talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets,” Johnson said during a conference call with reporters. "I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today.
“This change, the change that we made today — that I made — I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins, starting now.”
Saleh was 20-36 as coach of the Jets, who are trying to snap the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons. The move marks the first time in Johnson’s 25-year tenure that a head coach has been fired during the season.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season — with the Jets maintaining expectations to make the playoffs.
“He’s going to add a spark of positivity," Johnson said of Ulbrich.
The surprising move came a day after Saleh said he was confident Aaron Rodgers and the Jets would be able to turn things around after losing two straight, including falling to undefeated Minnesota. Rodgers had his worst game with New York, throwing three interceptions.
“I’m not panicked,” Saleh said. "Nobody in the building is panicked.”
But Johnson had seen enough from Saleh, who became the NFL's first coach fired this season. Saleh, who had one year remaining on his contract, had the worst winning percentage — .357 — of any Jets coach with at least 40 games.
“It’s not just the last two games that has precipitated this decision,” Johnson said. “It’s a longer time frame. I’ve had a couple of years to think about this and I just think we can do better. The team can do better. As we have this new leadership, I think that’s going to bring out the best in these players, I really do. I feel confident that that’s going to happen.”
Johnson said he spoke with Rodgers — but not about a possible coaching change — on Monday. He also chatted with general manager Joe Douglas, but added “this was my decision and my decision alone.”
It's the 12th time since 2000 that a team has changed coaches just five games or fewer into a season, and the first since Matt Rhule was fired by Carolina after five games in 2022.
The Jets face the Buffalo Bills (3-2) on Monday night, when they have a chance to share the AFC East lead with a victory. But instead of Saleh, it will be the 47-year-old Ulbrich leading the team on the sideline.
Ulbrich, who played linebacker for 10 seasons with San Francisco, joined the Jets as part of Saleh's initial staff in 2021. He opened a video call with reporters by thanking Saleh for sticking by him when the Jets' defense struggled in their first season together.
“Today's an exciting day for myself from the standpoint of getting this opportunity,” Ulbrich said. “But at the same time, heavy in my heart for Robert.”
Ulbrich was an assistant with Atlanta for six seasons before coming to New York and was part of another midseason coaching change when the Falcons fired Dan Quinn five games into the 2020 season.
“We’re not playing to our potential," Ulbrich said. "We're not. We’re too talented to be putting the product we put out there the last couple of weeks, especially. We have to take a hard look at everything and be honest with ourselves.”
After success as San Francisco's defensive coordinator for four seasons, Saleh replaced the fired Adam Gase in January 2021 after the Jets went 9-23 in his tenure.
Saleh, the son of Lebanese parents, was believed to be the first Muslim head coach in NFL history when the Jets hired him. Saleh wore a patch of Lebanon's flag on his left arm during the game in London on Sunday, something he also did at times last season. The NFL encouraged players and coaches to represent their heritage.
Saleh's tenure began with a major decision as he and Douglas moved on from quarterback Sam Darnold — the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 — to draft Zach Wilson with the second overall pick in 2021.
While Saleh and Ulbrich's defense was a strength for the Jets, Wilson and the offense struggled mightily.
The Jets traded for Rodgers in April 2023, adding the four-time NFL MVP to a franchise looking for a winner. But last season was short-circuited when Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut.
New York limped to a 7-10 record and while Johnson wouldn't specifically say there was a playoff mandate for this season, the owner made it clear during the offseason he needed to see marked improvement by saying “we have to do a lot better than seven games.”
Rodgers healed and was ready for the season opener, but he has been banged up the past two weeks and is dealing with a sprained ankle that hobbled him throughout the Jets' loss to Darnold and the Vikings. Saleh said Monday that preliminary tests indicated Rodgers should be able to play against the Bills.
But now Saleh will be only a spectator.
There were questions about his relationship with the 40-year-old Rodgers, but both denied any friction as recently as last week in London when the quarterback said “there’s some driving force trying to put a wedge outside the facility” between the two.
The Jets now will try to become the third team to make the playoffs with an interim coach leading the way, hoping to join the 2021 Raiders with Rich Bisaccia and the 1961 Oilers with Wally Lemm.
“This is a new day for the team and it’s a new day that’s welcome,” Johnson said. “And as the team realizes what opportunity this is for them, I think they’re going to go to a level that we haven’t seen in a while.”
AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
FILE - New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, right, talks with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
FILE - New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich walks the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt, File)
FILE - New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
FILE - New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh talks to reporters after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, right, talks with New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh before an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
