CFDA names Hildy Kuryk interim president

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has appointed Hildy Kuryk as interim president as it begins its search for a permanent successor to Steven Kolb, who resigned from the organization earlier this month.

Kuryk will serve in the interim role while the CFDA conducts a search expected to take three to six months. The organization is working with Karen Harvey Consulting Group to identify its next permanent CEO, according to industry sources. 

Kuryk previously served as executive director of communications at Vogue from 2013 to 2017. She spent 15 years working in politics before moving into consulting, including a stint as national finance director for the Democratic National Committee. 

In 2017, she co-founded Artemis Strategies, a boutique consultancy whose clients have included Condé Nast, Nordstrom and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“As we begin the search for CFDA’s next CEO, the Board is focused on identifying a leader who can guide the organization into its next chapter,” said Thom Browne, CFDA board chairman, in a statement on Monday.

“We are grateful to Hildy Kuryk for providing steady interim leadership and a strong connection between the Board and staff during this period.”

Kolb resigned as chief executive officer and president of the CFDA, days after he was involved in an altercation with PETA protesters at New York Fashion Week.

The incident took place at the COS show on September 13, when animal-rights activists disrupted the runway to protest the use of wool. Video footage showed Kolb physically intervening with two protesters.