Salman Khokhar
Salman Khokhar is known in the fashion industry for his experience in executing large-scale strategies leading to considerable sales and growth for major brands. The former Director of Global Strategy at Calvin Klein and later Donna Karan, Khokhar now consults for key clients through his company Koka Consulting. The company acts to advise such brands as Adidas, Jordache, and Carlos Miele, and with the 2008 private equity acquisition of Ford Models, Khokhar has since served as an advisor to the Board on international growth plans. Over the last 7 years, he has worked with numerous private equity firms on transaction advisory services and turnaround management, including Bin Hendi in Dubai and Aditya Birla In Bangalore.
BIOGRAPHY
Early in his career, Khokhar played a role in shaping the growth of both Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. At Calvin Klein he directed the brand in Europe and Asia, while guiding the company through 2 mergers, eventually managing a $1.5 billion distribution network at Warnaco. During Khokhar’s tenure at Donna Karan, the brand opened 15 international stores, signed numerous licensing agreements and grew to $1.4 billion prior to its sale to LVMH in 2001.
Salman Khokhar is widely recognized as a leader in the field of international brand development and has served as an expert resource for the US Chamber of Commerce, Society of Industry Leaders, Financial Dynamics, and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York. His affiliations with the US Commerce Ministry have lead to several initiatives driving trade investments for US based companies into emerging markets. Khokhar has spoken at Institute of Fashion Industries in Tokyo, Istituto Marangoni in Milan, LUMS Pakistan, NYU, ISB Hyderabad, and is a continuing professor at the Fashion Institute of New York. He has been invited as an industry leader to speak at multiple conferences and for Russia/Sao Paulo/Lakme/Stockholm/Hong Kong Fashion Weeks.
GOVERNMENT
Khokhar has advised Commerce Ministries and Export Promotion Bureaus in New Zealand, UAE, India, Pakistan, and Japan, on strategies to launch regional manufacturing exports from their respective countries into the US and Europe. He has additionally spoken at length on effects of quota removals due to the MFA agreement on manufacturing nations.
PHILANTHROPY
He serves on several charitable boards including The Khokhar Foundation, formed as part of a commitment with President Clinton, and as a partner of the Clinton Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to improve local economies of scale through training entrepreneurs in less developed countries and building SME’s.
References
- http://www.isb.edu/CEE/File/TheBusinessofFashion.pdf
- http://www.mrketplace.com/content/features/issue-overview/news/single-news-page/article/khokhar-takes-jordache-strategy-spot/