Biography
With her extensive experience in fashion and beauty retail, Marigay McKee was appointed by Saks Fifth Avenue chain to lead the re-invention of the iconic American department store chain in September 2013, although she departed the company 15 months later, in April 2015, by "mutual agreement." Before moving across the Atlantic, McKee was chief merchant of Harrods.
McKee joined the luxury mega store and London landmark in 1999 as a senior beauty buyer and worked her way up to become the top merchant. Under her direction, Harrods has attracted legions of tourists from abroad and now offers such visitor-friendly services as Mandarin-speaking sales staff and tax-free shopping through Global Blue.
McKee is said to have been responsible for altering Harrods’ range of products to include the very top end of the spectrum, with prices north of £10,000, further cementing the luxury emporium's status as the go-to destination for “ultra high net worth” individuals, particularly tourists visiting London.
Although she was inspired by Vogue magazines in her childhood, McKee expected to become a doctor or a lawyer. But after studying modern languages (she is fluent in French, Spanish, and Italian) and a stint of teaching in Spain, McKee found her way back to London as a fashion buyer for department store Fenwick, where she started her career in fashion.
In 2015, McKee founded MM Luxe Consulting, a consulting agency in Manhattan specialising in strategic retail development and creative partnerships for commercial brands, where she retains the title of chief executive. In 2016, she launched venture capitalist firm, Fernbrook Venture Fund, where she is a managing partner.