Chris Isitt, vp of UK, EMEA and Australia, will be leaving global costume company Rubie’s Masquerade at the end of February, 2020.
Over the 22 years that he has been with Rubie’s – the costume powerhouse behind generic and licensed dress-up favourites including Disney and Warner Bros. – Chris has been instrumental in building its presence outside of North America.
There is currently no confirmation of an official replacement, though it is understood that Peter Warton, ceo of Rubie’s Deerfield in Australia, will be arriving in the UK office during February, in a newly created role of executive director across the European business. Holly Oldham will remain in her successful position as managing director for the UK.
During Chris’ 20th anniversary celebrations in 2018, Marc Beige, Rubie’s US president, had commented: “When we first came to Europe in the nineties this was little more than a wing and a prayer. We’ve built up quite a collection of world class companies in Europe – Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland, and to no small part Chris has shepherded the company through this and through all the challenges.”