Urban Outfitters restructures Anthropologie leadership

PHILADELPHIA Urban Outfitters announced that it has created a new leadership structure for the North American region of its Anthropologie brand.

Two long-term senior Anthropologie executives, Wendy Wurtzburger and Wendy Brown, will lead the brand in the newly created roles of chief merchandising officer and chief operating officer of the Anthropologie division. Effective immediately, Wurtzburger will be responsible for leading merchandise design, buying, planning and allocation plus brand finance while Brown will drive the company's front end operations including store management, real estate, store design and visual merchandising along with all Direct-to-consumer operations including brand-wide marketing and 'Anthro', the brand's new customer relationship program.

Wurtzburger has been in a senior merchandising role at Anthropologie for 10 years, most recently as executive director and general merchandise manager. Prior to joining the company, Wurtzburger held buying and merchandising roles with a variety of department and specialty stores including Abraham & Straus, Macy's West and Mimi Maternity.

Brown began her career with Urban Outfitters Inc. in 1991 and over the years has held a variety of senior operational roles across the Company's three brands -- Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters -- including an overseas assignment. Prior to being named coo of Anthropologie, she served as senior executive director of retail at Anthropologie.