The resolutions luxury leaders have made for 2024

A new year always begs certain questions: Which intentions do I set for the year ahead? What would I like to prioritise this year? How would I like to evolve, both professionally and personally? For inspiration, we asked a series of luxury leaders at Walpole member organisations what their resolutions are for the year to come...

Michael Wainwright

CEO, Boodles

“Our ambition to establish complete traceability for all Boodles diamonds is taking shape, having successfully achieved full traceability for all of our gold. Within the next five years, our objective is to ensure that every element of the business is fully traceable, meaning we have a lot of work to do!”

Michael Ward

Managing Director, Harrods & Chairman, Walpole

“2024 is the year of the Walpole’s presidency of the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA). My personal objective at Walpole is to make sure we are seen as the shining star and lead the industry into yet another year of success.”  

Ryan Palmer

CEO, London Sock Co.

"For me, 2024 is all about refinement and strengthening our brand, business and customer performance metrics. My mantra will be sanity over vanity – focusing on fortifying these essential foundations – as the businesses that will thrive in this climate are the ones that prioritise the fundamentals."

Robert Ettinger

CEO, Ettinger

“2024 is Ettinger’s 90th anniversary, so a big milestone for the company. To mark the occasion, we will be unveiling a selection of limited-edition products depicting our logo from the 1930s and holding a number of special events throughout the year. My goal is to make sure everything goes smoothly and plan for the years ahead!”

Anabel Kindersley

Co-Owner, Neal’s Yard Remedies

"My professional and personal goals for 2024 are one and the same: continuing to help people make more sustainable choices by making luxurious, beautiful, effective skincare that not only makes us feel good about ourselves, but that actively supports nature in the process. I feel strongly that we can use business as a force for good, especially when it comes to protecting biodiversity, and I have no plans to stop putting pressure on the government to cut hazardous pesticides next year. Collaboration is the only way we are going to make a meaningful difference, so I hope even more people will join forces with us to achieve this goal in 2024.”

Katie McAlister

President, Cunard

“Next year will be a truly momentous year for our brand, as we launch our newest ship Queen Anne in May 2024. She is the next in a fine line for Cunard and symbolises a new vision for our brand as we look forward to redefining excellence in the cruise industry. For me personally, as someone who is new to cruising, I can’t wait to see our team come together to deliver our famous White Star Service as we welcome our first guests aboard.”

Raul Verdicchi

CEO, Sunspel

“In an ever-evolving industry, my goal for 2024 is to keep developing our beautiful brand story while building on our success at an international level. I’m focused on ensuring that our recently opened stores in the US continue to perform, that our upcoming openings in the US go to plan, and that our presence in wholesale partners in Europe and Asia continues to grow.

“Regarding my work personally, my goal is to continue to discover every single detail of the fascinating story of the Sunspel brand, that I recently joined, and to do everything I can to build the brand into the future.”

Jonathan Boston

Managing Director, Christy’s Hats

“To strive for the best and continue to drive development on all levels in our business. Embracing the many challenges that we all face and not let this stop positive actions or new opportunities. In 2024, I intend to commit to exploring the smallest details and be open to change, remain optimistic yet steadfast.”

Gary Gruber

Managing Director, The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle

“To never rest on our laurels here at The Carnegie Club. We might be one of the world’s most prestigious private members’ clubs, but we are constantly evolving and innovating to enhance the Skibo experience for our members and guests. So, in 2024, I’ll continue to ask: ‘what can we do better?’.”

Simon Wolf

CEO, WOLF

“2024 is a momentous year for both me and the company, it is our 190th year in business and after 18 months of planning and product development, we are ready to pay respect to the four generations that came before me, starting with my great, great grandfather, the silversmith from Hanau, Germany. Philipp Wolf I started it all with the simplest of ideas: that things of value should be kept in a box of equal beauty. So, put simply, 2024 for me is about ensuring that I do justice to the work of every generation of my family before me, each one an essential link to the company today.”

Richard Brendon

Founder, Richard Brendon

“We want to double down on our efforts to celebrate the incredible craftspeople we work with. There is so much skill and so much history tied up in Stoke-on-Trent alone which is known only to those of us who work within the industry – we want to do more to change that. In terms of my business, we are on a mission to elevate the everyday drinking and dining experience, bringing refinement and great design to people's homes as well as professional dining rooms and bars. As for me personally, I'm excited to spend more quality time with my wife and two-year-old son, Freddie in our new home in Somerset. Bring on 2024!”

Katie Vanneck-Smith

CEO, Hearst UK

"There has been much speculation over the challenges our industry faces, but as we head into 2024, I’m certain that there is always possibility for growth. I’m hugely ambitious about accelerating growth for our incomparable portfolio of brands – through membership propositions, digital subscriptions and diversified revenues. My 2024 goal for Hearst is to reinvigorate our titles, identify new revenue opportunities and super-serve the customers at the heart of our business, bringing them innovation, distinctiveness and, above all, quality. My personal plan is for us to have a lot of fun in doing so.”